an apartment where three men sat.
Two of them were evidently in company; the third, rather to my
astonishment, was Pillot, who, glancing up at my entrance, rose to
greet me.

"You have left Gien then?" I said. "Where is M. Beauchamp?"

"In the camp before Etampes, monsieur. He has recovered from his
wounds, and has returned to his squadron. I offered to stay with him a
while longer, but he preferred that I should join you."

"When did you leave him?"

"This morning, monsieur."

As there was no need to take Pillot with me, I ordered him to remain at
the inn until my return, which would probably be the next day.

"Very well, monsieur," said he pleasantly.

As soon as my horse was sufficiently rested I resumed my journey,
telling Pillot he might expect me at any hour of the day or night. I
was sorry Raoul had left Gien, though pleased at the prospect of seeing
him at Etampes, and, but for the strangeness attending our meeting, I
should have entirely passed over the episode of this otherwise
uneventful ride.

Marshal Turenne was inspecting the position of a battery when I found
him, but he instantly opened and read the Cardinal's note.

"Hum!" said he, knitting his brows, "this is a serious matter, and
requires thought. You will remain in the camp until I am ready to
furnish his Eminence with an answer. You have friends among my
gentlemen?"

"M. Beauchamp is my chief friend, general."

"Ah! I remember you now. I saw you at Blenau and again at Gien.
Well, you cannot do better than spend an hour or two with M.
Beauchamp," and he directed one of his attendants to conduct me to
Raoul's tent.

"Albert!" exclaimed my comrade, jumping up in surprise. "How came you
here? Ah! I forgot! You are on the Cardinal's business?"

"Yes, but I met Pillot at Limours, and he told me you had rejoined your
squadron. I hope you did not leave Gien too soon?"

"No, I am quite strong again, and I could not lie there doing nothing."

Now, I do not pretend to explain his behaviour at that time, or the
mystery which followed; my readers must judge for themselves after I
have stated the facts. That something had altered my old comrade very
much was plain. He had lost his high spirits, and replied to my
sallies with only a half-hearted smile. When I rallied him on this
gloomy fit he dismissed the subject hastily, leading me to talk of John
Humphreys and what the Court was doing at St. Germain.

I had been with him an