vost-Marshal, who seemed to be trembling in his
boots, 'he may expect an immediate order also. M. de Villequier has
wisely gone a-hunting, and will not be back for a day or two.'

Racked as I was by suspense and anxiety, I could not assail him with
immediate petitions. It behoved me first to thank him for his prompt
intervention, and this in terms as warm as I could invent. Nor could
I in justice fail to commend the Provost; to him, representing the
officer's conduct to me, and lauding his ability. All this, though
my heart was sick with thought and fear and disappointment, and every
minute seemed an age.

'Well, well,' the Marquis said with stately good-nature, 'We will lay
the blame on Villequier then. He is an old fox, however, and ten to one
he will go scot-free. It is not the first time he has played this trick.
But I have not yet come to the end of my commission,' he continued
pleasantly. 'His Majesty sends you this, M. de Marsac, and bade me say
that he had loaded it for you.'

He drew from under his cloak as he spoke the pistol which I had left
with the king, and which happened to be the same M. de Rosny had given
me. I took it, marvelling impatiently at the careful manner in which he
handled it; but in a moment I understood for I found it loaded to the
muzzle with gold-pieces, of which two or three fell and rolled upon the
floor. Much moved by this substantial mark of the king's gratitude,
I was nevertheless for pocketing them in haste; but the Marquis, to
satisfy a little curiosity on his part, would have me count them, and
brought the tale to a little over two thousand livres, without counting
a ring set with precious stones which I found among them. This handsome
present diverted my thoughts from Simon Fleix, but could not relieve the
anxiety I felt on mademoiselle's account. The thought of her position so
tortured me that M. de Rambouillet began to perceive my state of mind,
and hastened to assure me that before going to the Court he had already
issued orders calculated to assist me.

'You desire to follow this lady, I understand?' he said. 'What with the
king who is enraged beyond the ordinary by this outrage, and Francois
there, who seemed beside himself when he heard the news, I have not got
any very clear idea of the position.'

'She was entrusted to me by--by one, sir, well known to you,' I answered
hoarsely. 'My honour is engaged to him and to her. If I follow on my
feet and alone, I must follow.