townsfolk, of whom a great number were strolling abroad, or standing
in doorways talking to their gossips. Feverishly anxious as I was, I
remarked the gloom which dwelt on all faces; but as I set it down to
the king's approaching departure, and besides was intent on seeing that
those we sought did not by any chance pass us in the crowd, I thought
little of it. Five minutes' walking brought us to M. de Rosny's lodging.
There I knocked at the door; impatiently, I confess, and with little
hope of success. But, to my surprise, barely an instant elapsed before
the door opened, and I saw before me Simon Fleix!

Discovering who it was, he cowered back, with a terrified face, and
retreated to the wall with his arm raised.

'You scoundrel!' I exclaimed, restraining myself with difficulty. 'Tell
me this moment where Mademoiselle de la Vire is! Or, by Heaven, I shall
forget what my mother owed to you, and do you a mischief!'

For an instant he glared at me viciously, with all his teeth exposed, as
though he meant to refuse--and more. Then he thought better of it, and,
raising his hand, pointed sulkily upwards.

'Go before me and knock at the door,' I said, tapping the hilt of my
dagger with meaning.

Cowed by my manner, he obeyed, and led the way to the room in which M.
de Rambouillet had surprised us on a former occasion. Here he stopped
at the door and knocked gently; on which a sharp voice inside bade us
enter. I raised the latch and did so, closing the door behind me.

Mademoiselle, still wearing her riding-coat, sat in a chair before the
hearth, on which a newly kindled fire sputtered and smoked. She had her
back to me, and did not turn on my entrance, but continued to toy in
an absent manner with the strings of the mask which lay in her lap.
Fanchette stood bolt upright behind her, with her elbows squared and
her hands clasped; in such an attitude that I guessed the maid had
been expressing her strong dissatisfaction with this latest whim of her
mistress, and particularly with mademoiselle's imprudence in wantonly
exposing herself, with so inadequate a guard as Simon, in a place where
she had already suffered so much. I was confirmed in this notion on
seeing the woman's harsh countenance clear at sight of me; though the
churlish nod, which was all the greeting she bestowed on me, seemed to
betoken anything but favour or good-will. She touched her mistress on
the shoulder, however, and said, 'M. de Marsac is here.'