ct
of his toe--no longer, however, in a hostile spirit, but as the
happy medium which had led him to recognise the worth and sterling
qualities--so he was pleased to say--of his preserver.

I was delighted to find him in this frame of mind, and told him frankly
that the friendship with which his kinsman, M. de Rambouillet, honoured
me would prevent me giving him satisfaction save in the last resort.
He replied that the service I had done him was such as to render this
immaterial, unless I had myself cause of offence; which I was forward to
deny.

We were paying one another compliments after this fashion, while I
regarded him with the interest which the middle-aged bestow on the young
and gallant in whom they see their own youth and hopes mirrored, when
the door was again opened, and after a moment's pause admitted, equally,
I think, to the disgust of M. Francois, and myself, the form of Father
Antoine.

Seldom have two men more diverse stood, I believe, in a room together;
seldom has any greater contrast been presented to a man's eyes than that
opened to mine on this occasion. On the one side the gay young spark,
with his short cloak, his fine suit; of black-and-silver, his trim
limbs and jewelled hilt and chased comfit-box; on the other, the tall,
stooping monk, lean-jawed and bright-eyed, whose gown hung about him in
coarse, ungainly folds. And M. Francois' sentiment on first seeing the
other was certainly dislike. Is spite of this, however, he bestowed a
greeting on the new-comer which evidenced a secret awe, and in other
ways showed so plain a desire to please, that I felt my fears of the
priest return in force. I reflected that the talents which in such a
garb could win the respect of M. Francois d'Agen--a brilliant star among
the younger courtiers, and one of a class much given to thinking scorn
of their fathers' roughness--must be both great and formidable; and,
so considering, I received the monk with a distant courtesy which I had
once little thought to extend to him. I put aside for the moment the
private grudge I bore him with so much justice, and remembered only the
burden which lay on me in my contest with him.

I conjectured without difficulty that he chose to come at this time,
when M. Francois was with me, out of a cunning regard to his own safety;
and I was not surprised when M. Francois, beginning to make his adieux,
Father Antoine begged him to wait below, adding that he had something
of importan