ification the poor
figure I had cut in the King of Navarre's antechamber at St. Jean, I
experienced so strange a gush of pity for my mistress that nothing could
exceed the tenderness I felt for her. I had won her under false colours,
I was not worthy of her. I felt that my mere presence in her company in
such a place as this, and among these people, must cover her with shame
and humiliation.

To my great relief, since I knew my face was on fire, neither of the
two, as they walked down the passage, looked my way or seemed conscious
of my neighbourhood. At the door they stood a moment talking earnestly,
and it seemed as if M. de Rosny would have accompanied the Vicomte
farther. The latter would not suffer it, however, but took his leave
there; and this with so many polite gestures that my last hope based on
M. de Rosny vanished.

Nevertheless, that gentleman was not so wholly changed that on his
turning to re-traverse the room I did not see a smile flicker for an
instant on his features as the two lines of bowing courtiers opened
before him. The next moment his look fell on me, and though his face
scarcely altered, he stopped opposite me.

'M. de Marsac is waiting to see His Majesty?' he asked aloud, speaking
to M. la Varenne.

My companion remaining silent, I bowed.

'In five minutes,' M. de Rosny replied quietly, yet with a distant air,
which made me doubt whether I had not dreamed all I remembered of this
man. 'Ah! M. de Paul, what can I do for you?' he continued. And he bent
his head to listen to the application which a gentleman who stood next
me poured into his ear. 'I will see,' I heard him answer. 'In any case
you shall know to-morrow.'

'But you will be my friend?' M. Paul urged, detaining him by the sleeve.

'I will put only one before you,' he answered.

My neighbour seemed to shrink into himself with disappointment. 'Who is
it?' he murmured piteously.

'The king and his service, my friend,' M. de Rosny replied drily. And
with that he walked away. But half a dozen times at least; before he
reached the upper end of the room I saw the scene repeated.

I looked on at all this in the utmost astonishment, unable to guess or
conceive what had happened to give M. de Rosny so much importance. For
it did not; escape me that the few words he had stopped to speak to me
had invested me with interest in the eyes of all who stood near.
They gave me more room and a wider breathing-space, and looking at me
askance