umphreys was at his post in
the Palais Royal; the gates of both palaces were closed and barred, for
no one knew what an hour would bring forth. The night passed quietly,
but, as soon as the dawn broke, bands of armed men, in the pay of De
Retz, moved down on the Palais de Justice, swarming into the halls and
galleries and seizing the best positions. The crowd outside rapidly
increased to enormous numbers, and very soon cries of "Down with Conde"
were heard.

About an hour after De Retz put in an appearance loud shouts announced
the coming of the prince. He rode haughtily at the head of some two
thousand fighting men, who marched afoot with their hands on their
swords, and apparently quite ready to use them. I was standing near
the gate as Conde passed, and to my surprise he beckoned me toward him.

"Has your search failed?" he asked.

"Yes, your Highness. According to all accounts my cousin is dead, and
I am sure De Retz thinks so."

"Why do you say that?" he asked quickly. "Come with me; it is
important that I should have the latest news."

Accordingly we walked together along the corridor, which was filled
with armed men, and so into the Parliament Hall, Conde listening with
deep attention to the story of my chance meeting with De Retz.

"Ah!" he exclaimed thoughtfully, "that will account for more than one
strange incident," and leaving me he took his seat in the assembly.

I was too far off to hear the speeches, but there was tremendous
excitement, and I think everyone was expecting the meeting to end in
bloodshed. Better sense, however, prevailed; Conde sent a nobleman to
ask his friends to withdraw, and De Retz went with a similar message to
his own retainers. Then something happened which threatened to undo
all the good. Conde's messenger getting back first shut the door, and
when the Abbe knocked, opened it only a little way. As De Retz
endeavoured to squeeze through, the nobleman caught and fixed him
between the two halves, at the same time calling to his friends to kill
the Abbe.

[Illustration: "The nobleman caught and fixed him."]

It was a critical moment, as the first blow would have been the signal
for a fierce fight, yet I could hardly refrain from laughing at the
spectacle. The little man's head and shoulders were within the hall,
and the rest of his body was outside, while he could not stir an inch.
Happily no blow was struck, as one of Conde's captains, crying "Shame!"
ran forward