bandy-legged fellow be
doing at the Hotel de Chevreuse? I wager he and my cousin are brewing
some fresh mischief."

As no good could possibly come from further waiting, I turned away, and
hurried back to the Palais Royal, eager to inform Mazarin of my
discovery, and to get my breakfast. Roland Belloc met me in the
courtyard, and held up a warning finger.

"You are in disgrace, my friend," said he, gravely; "the Cardinal has
been waiting for you a long time. He has sent out repeatedly in the
last hour to ask if you had returned."

"He will forgive the delay--I have discovered something of importance."

Dressed in his ceremonial robes, the Cardinal sat at the table, with an
ominous frown on his face.

"The letter!" he cried impatiently, directly on my entrance. "Where is
Martin's list? By my faith, M. de Lalande, you do well to keep Her
Majesty waiting a whole hour!" and he took the paper from my hand
somewhat ungraciously.

The letter apparently contained good news, and the Cardinal, smiling
almost joyously, rose to leave the room.

"One moment, my Lord," I observed, "I have something to tell you which
may be important."

"It must stay till after the audience; I cannot keep the Queen waiting
longer. I shall return in an hour or two. Meanwhile Bernouin will see
that you obtain some breakfast," and he summoned his secretary.

"M. de Lalande has not breakfasted," said he. "I leave him in your
charge. Meanwhile I can see no one. Do you understand?"

Bernouin, a man of few words, responded by a low bow.

After partaking of a hearty breakfast, I lay down upon a couch, and,
being thoroughly tired, fell fast asleep, not waking again till towards
the middle of the afternoon, when Bernouin came to say the Cardinal
awaited me.

Jumping up, I followed the secretary, not wishing to receive a further
reproof from the minister. Pausing at the door, Bernouin gave a
discreet tap, which was answered by Mazarin.

"M. de Lalande," announced the secretary, and at a sign from the
Cardinal withdrew.

Mazarin was writing, but, laying down his pen, he motioned me to a seat
opposite him.

"You have breakfasted, have you not?" he asked.

"Yes, my Lord, thank you," I replied.

He smiled affably, and was plainly in good humour--the result perhaps
of his morning's work. Suddenly this mood changed, the frown came back
to his face, and he exclaimed sternly, "I had almost forgotten. Why
were you so long on your erran