ble when he thinks he has
had the best bit, he bowed, and prepared to take leave.

"Then, monsieur, that is all you have to tell me?" asked the duchess.

"I have executed my commission, and it only remains for me to present my
humble respects to your highness."

The duchess let him go, but when the door shut behind him, she stamped
her foot impatiently.

"Mayneville," said she, "have that young man followed."

"Impossible, madame; all our household are out, I myself am waiting for
the event. It is a bad day on which to do anything else than what we
have decided to do."

"You are right, Mayneville; but afterward--"

"Oh! afterward, if you please, madame."

"Yes; for I suspect him, as my brother does."

"He is a brave fellow, at all events; and really we are lucky, a
stranger coming to render us such a service."

"Nevertheless, Mayneville, have him watched. But night is falling, and
Valois must be returning from Vincennes."

"Oh! we have time before us; it is not eight o'clock, and our men have
not arrived."

"All have the word, have they not?"

"All."--"They are trustworthy?"

"Tried, madame."

"How many do you expect?"

"Fifty; it is more than necessary, for besides them we have two hundred
monks, as good as soldiers, if not better."

"As soon as our men have arrived, range your monks on the road."

"They are all ready, madame; they will intercept the way, our men will
push the carriage toward them, the gates of the convent will be open,
and will have but to close behind the carriage."

"Let us sup, then, Mayneville, it will pass the time. I am so impatient,
I should like to push the hands of the clock."

"The hour will come; be easy."

"But our men?"

"They will be here; it is hardly eight."

"Mayneville, my poor brother asks for his surgeon; the best surgeon, the
best cure for his wound, will be a lock of the Valois's shaved head, and
the man who should carry him that present, Mayneville, would be sure to
be welcome."

"In two hours, madame, that man shall set out to find our dear duke in
his retreat; he who went out of Paris as a fugitive shall return
triumphantly."

"One word more, Mayneville; are our friends in Paris warned?"

"What friends?"--"The leaguers."

"Heaven forbid, madame; to tell a bourgeois is to tell all Paris. Once
the deed is done, and the prisoner safe in the cloister, we can defend
ourselves against an army. Then we should risk nothing by crying from
the roof o