e patience and courage and remember that in spite of time
and absence all your friends continue to cherish for you the sentiments
they have so long professed and truly entertained.

"Yours wholly and most affectionately

"Marie de Montbazon.

"P.S.--I sign my full name, for I should be vain if I could suppose that
after five years of absence you would remember my initials."

The poor duke became perfectly giddy. What for five years he had been
wanting--a faithful servant, a friend, a helping hand--seemed to have
fallen from Heaven just when he expected it the least.

"Oh, dearest Marie! she thinks of me, then, after five years of
separation! Heavens! there is constancy!" Then turning to Grimaud, he
said:

"And thou, my brave fellow, thou consentest thus to aid me?"

Grimaud signified his assent.

"And you have come here with that purpose?"

Grimaud repeated the sign.

"And I was ready to strangle you!" cried the duke.

Grimaud smiled.

"Wait, then," said the duke, fumbling in his pocket. "Wait," he
continued, renewing his fruitless search; "it shall not be said that
such devotion to a grandson of Henry IV. went without recompense."

The duke's endeavors evinced the best intention in the world, but one
of the precautions taken at Vincennes was that of allowing prisoners to
keep no money. Whereupon Grimaud, observing the duke's disappointment,
drew from his pocket a purse filled with gold and handed it to him.

"Here is what you are looking for," he said.

The duke opened the purse and wanted to empty it into Grimaud's hands,
but Grimaud shook his head.

"Thank you, monseigneur," he said, drawing back; "I am paid."

The duke went from one surprise to another. He held out his hand.
Grimaud drew near and kissed it respectfully. The grand manner of Athos
had left its mark on Grimaud.

"What shall we do? and when? and how proceed?"

"It is now eleven," answered Grimaud. "Let my lord at two o'clock ask
leave to make up a game at tennis with La Ramee and let him send two or
three balls over the ramparts."

"And then?"

"Your highness will approach the walls and call out to a man who works
in the moat to send them back again."

"I understand," said the duke.

Grimaud made a sign that he was going away.

"Ah!" cried the duke, "will you not accept any money from me?"

"I wish my lord would make me one promise."

"What! speak!"

"'Tis this: when we escape together, that I shall go everywhere a