s happened, and from the threats that he
has publicly uttered against myself I am convinced that Beaufort will
hesitate at nothing to bring about my ruin. I hear that you are still
with your regiment at St. Denis. I shall be glad if for a time you will
take up your abode at Paris, and will hold yourself in readiness to be
of service to me if there should be occasion. Beaufort is capable of
even attempting my life; he is very unscrupulous, and will hesitate at
nothing. I shall be glad if you will take up your lodging within a short
distance of this, so that I can communicate with you instantly."

"Certainly, your excellency; I will keep half a company always under
arms, so that at the shortest notice they will be in readiness to act
as you may direct. But surely, your excellency, you have the queen's
musketeers close at hand?"

"The queen's musketeers are a body of gallant soldiers, but they
will take their orders only from the queen. They were strongly
anti-cardinalist in the late reign, and I do not suppose that they are
better affected towards myself than they were towards Richelieu. If they
heard that my hotel was attacked they would not move a foot until they
received orders from the queen to do so."

"At any rate, you shall have no reason to complain of delay on our part,
your excellency, and I can assure you of my devotion."

Hector at once went to an auberge but a few hundred yards from the
cardinal's residence. He thought it better to put up there than to take
lodgings, as he could then have his four mounted men with him; and,
riding to St. Denis, he returned the same night with them.

"A horse is always to be saddled," he said to them when they had
dismounted and his orderlies had come up to his room, "and one of you
by turns will always remain here armed and ready to mount without an
instant's delay. The others will put aside their scarves; and one of
you will always be at the cabaret nearest to the Hotel de Vendome, the
residence of the Duke of Beaufort, who is a son of the Duc de Vendome.
At times two of you can be there so as to drink and play cards together,
as the appearance of one sitting too long might attract attention. Your
object is to find out from the conversation of the duke's guards and
servants whether they have any idea that anything unusual is going to
take place. I have reason to believe that there is a plot against the
cardinal, and I am much concerned in defeating it."

When the four