o ward off a blow. 'They imitated Maignan's voice,' he muttered
hoarsely. 'We opened.'

'And you dare to come here and tell me!' I cried, scarcely restraining
my passion. 'You, to whom I entrusted her. You, whom I thought devoted
to her. You have destroyed her, man!'

He rose as suddenly as he had cowered down. His thin, nervous face
underwent a startling change; growing on a sudden hard and rigid, while
his eyes began to glitter with excitement. 'I--I have destroyed her?
Ay, mon dieu! I HAVE,' he cried, speaking to my face, and no longer
flinching or avoiding my eye. 'You may kill me, if you like. You do not
know all. It was I who stole the favour she gave you from your doublet,
and then said M. de Rosny had taken it! It was I who told her you had
given it away! It was I who brought her to the Little Sisters', that she
might see you with Madame de Bruhl! It was I who did all, and destroyed
her! Now you know! Do with me what you like!'

He opened his arms as though to receive a blow, while I stood before
him astounded beyond measure by a disclosure so unexpected; full of
righteous wrath and indignation, and yet uncertain what I ought to do.
'Did you also let Bruhl into the room on purpose?' I cried at last.

'I?' he exclaimed, with a sudden flash of rage in his eyes. 'I would
have died first!'

I do not know how I might have taken this confession; but at the moment
there was a trampling of horses outside, and before I could answer him
I heard M. de Rambouillet speaking in haughty tones, at the door below.
The Provost-Marshal was with him, but his lower notes were lost in the
ring of bridles and the stamping of impatient hoofs. I looked towards
the door of my room, which stood ajar, and presently the two entered,
the Marquis listening with an air of contemptuous indifference to the
apologies which the other, who attended at his elbow, was pouring forth.
M. de Rambouillet's face reflected none of the gloom and despondency
which M. d'Agen's exhibited in so marked a degree. He seemed, on the
contrary, full of gaiety and good-humour, and, coming forward and seeing
me, embraced me with the utmost kindness and condescension.

'Ha! my friend,' he said cheerfully, 'so I find you here after all!
But never fear. I am this moment from the king with an order for your
release. His Majesty has told me all, making me thereby your lasting
friend and debtor. As for this gentleman,' he continued, turning with
a cold smile to the Pro