g with an oath, saw him, and involuntarily
recoiled. At all times Maignan's hardy and confident bearing was of a
kind to impress the strong; but on this occasion there was an added dash
of recklessness in his manner which was not without its effect on the
spectators. As he stood there smiling darkly over Bruhl's head, while
his hand toyed carelessly with his dagger, and the torch shone ruddily
on his burly figure, he was so clearly an antagonist in a thousand
that, had I sought through Blois, I might not have found his fellow
for strength and SANG-FROID. He let his black eyes rove from one to the
other, but took heed of me only, saluting me with effusion and a touch
of the Gascon which was in place here, if ever.

I knew how M. de Rosny dealt with him, and followed the pattern as
far as I could. 'Maignan!' I said curtly, 'I have taken a lodging for
to-night elsewhere. Then I am gone you will call out your men and watch
this door. If anyone tries to force an entrance you will do your duty.'

'You may consider it done,' he replied.

'Even if the person be M. de Bruhl here,' I continued.

'Precisely.'

'You will remain on guard,' I went on, 'until to-morrow morning if M.
de Bruhl remains here; but whenever he leaves you will take your orders
from the persons inside, and follow them implicitly.'

'Your Excellency's mind may be easy,' he answered, handling his dagger.

Dismissing him with a nod, I turned with a smile to M. de Bruhl, and saw
that between rage at this unexpected check and chagrin at the insult
put upon him, his discomfiture was as complete as I could wish. As for
Fresnoy, if he had seriously intended to dispute our passage, he was
no longer in the mood for the attempt. Yet I did not let his master
off without one more prick. 'That being settled, M. de Bruhl,' I said
pleasantly, 'I may bid you good evening. You will doubtless honour me at
Chaverny tomorrow. But we will first let Maignan look under the bridge!'

CHAPTER XXVI. MEDITATIONS.

Either the small respect I had paid M. de Bruhl, or the words I had let
fall respecting the possible disappearance of M. Villequier, had had so
admirable an effect on the Provost-Marshal's mind that from the
moment of leaving my lodgings he treated me with the utmost civility;
permitting me even to retain my sword, and assigning me a sleeping-place
for the night in his own apartments at the gate-house.

Late as it was, I could not allow so much politeness to pass