ot to be disposed of so easily as my lord
believes. Never was there a braver, more fearless man. In our first
attack on him, at Poitiers, he got the better of us in a most wonderful
way--we never saw the like of it--and all he had to fight with was a
dull, rusty sword, not intended for use at all; a theatre sword, just
for looks. And when we tried to do for him here in Paris, the very night
he got here, it all came to naught, because he was so watchful, and
somehow suspected what we were up to, and was ready for us; and that
upset our beautiful little plan entirely. I never was so surprised in my
life; and there was nothing for us to do, the whole four of us, but to
get out of his sight as fast as we could, and he standing there laughing
at us. Oh! he's a rare one, is Captain Fracasse. And now he knows my
face, so I can't go near him myself. But I have engaged the services
of a particular friend of mine--the bravest man and the best fighter in
Paris--he hasn't his equal in the world with the sword, they all say. He
is lying in wait for him on the Pont-Neuf now, at this very moment, and
there'll be no mistake this time. Lampourde will be sure to despatch him
for us--if it is not done already--and that without the slightest danger
of your lordship's name being mixed up with the affair in any way, as it
might have been if your lordship's own servants had done it."

"The plan is not a bad one," said the young duke, somewhat mollified,
"and perhaps it is better that it should be done in that way. But are
you really sure of the courage and skill of this friend of yours? He
will need both to get the better of that confounded de Sigognac, who is
no coward, and a master hand with the sword, I am bound to acknowledge,
though I do hate him like the devil."

"My lord need have no fears," said Merindol enthusiastically, being now
more at his ease. "Jacquemin Lampourde is a hero, a wonder, as everybody
will tell your lordship. He is more valiant than Achilles, or the great
Alexander. He is not spotless certainly, like the Chevalier Bayard, but
he is fearless."

Picard, who had been hovering about for a few minutes in an uneasy way,
now seeing that his master was in a better humour, approached and
told him that a very odd-looking man was below, who asked to see him
immediately on most important business.

"You may bring him in," said the duke, "but just warn him, Picard, that
if he dares to intrude upon me for any trifling matter,