ttend
to your hurts. I see you have been wounded."

"A mere scratch, your Eminence," replied the officer saluting, and,
when he had withdrawn, the Cardinal again turned his attention to me.

"Yes," said he, as if in answer to a question, "your companions have
escaped: so much the better for them. But, deprived of the
bell-wether, the flock counts for little. Now, as you value your life,
tell me who sent you here. I warn you to speak the truth; there are
deep dungeons in the Bastille."

"My story is a curious one, your Eminence, but it throws little light
on the affair. My father is the head of the De Lalande family, but he
is poor, and has lost his estates. The other day our friend, M.
Belloc----"

"Belloc?" exclaimed the Cardinal quickly, "what Belloc?"

"Roland Belloc, your Eminence, a stout soldier and your faithful
servant. He offered, if I came to Paris, to speak to you on my behalf."

"Go on," said Mazarin, with evident interest.

"Shortly after his return to Paris I had the misfortune to offend Baron
Maubranne of Vancey, and then my mother, who had before been unwilling
to part from me, agreed to my leaving home. I came to Paris, and
inquired for my friend at the Palais Royal. The soldiers declared he
was absent, which was unfortunate for me. However, I remembered the
name of an inn at which another friend sometimes puts up, and I went
there."

"One must go somewhere," said Mazarin.

"Yesterday," I continued, "a man brought me a note. It was intended
for some one else, but, not knowing that, I opened it. It was very
mysterious, but I gathered there was a conspiracy on foot, and that you
were to be the victim."

"That is generally the case," exclaimed Mazarin with a sigh.

"As the conspirators mistook me for some one else----"

"For your cousin!"

"I resolved to play the part, in the hope of being able to put you on
your guard."

"A remarkable story!" said Mazarin thoughtfully. "Eh, Martin?"

"It seems to ring true, your Eminence," replied the astrologer.

"There are two or three points, though, to be considered. For
instance," turning to me, "to which party does this second friend of
yours belong?"

"I really do not know that he belongs to any party."

"Well, it is of small consequence. Now, as to the people who came here
with you?" and he cast a searching glance at my face.

"I should not recognise them in the street."

"But their names?" he cried impatiently. "You must