nd accompanied by Felix had
returned to the hotel.

"Is that you, Le Blanc?" cried one of my comrades. "What means this
treasonable correspondence with the enemy?" and he handed me a sealed
packet.

"For me?" I exclaimed, taking it in surprise. "Where does it come from?"

"Ah," said he, laughing merrily, "that is a nice question to ask! One of
Monseigneur's rascals brought it under a flag of truce to the officer at
the gate, and he sent it here. I should have put you under arrest, and
forwarded the correspondence to the Admiral."

I looked at the letter curiously, and with a vague feeling of
uneasiness. It bore my name, but the handwriting was unfamiliar. "One of
Anjou's troopers!" I muttered.

I walked slowly away, still accompanied by Felix and carrying the packet
in my hand. I had no idea of the sender, nor of the contents, yet
strangely enough, when we reached our room, my fingers trembled so much
that I could hardly break the seal.

"What is it?" asked Felix anxiously. "What do you fear?"

"Nothing," I replied with a forced laugh; "I am foolish; that is all."

Yes, there was my name in crabbed letters; I glanced from it to the foot
of the page: the letter was signed, "Renaud L'Estang."

"L'Estang!" I muttered, "L'Estang! Why, that is the name of my
adventurer. Of course he is with Anjou; but why should he write to me?
Perhaps 'tis to thank me again, or to tell me something about Cordel!
Ah, yes, that would be it. He must have gathered some fresh information
concerning the rascally lawyer!"

I gave a deep sigh of relief, yet studiously avoided what he had
written. But this was childish folly! Courage! What had I to fear?
Cordel had already done his worst. We had lost our estates--it mattered
little who gained them.

"Monsieur, you once did me a priceless service. I have never
forgotten--shall never forget----"--"Just as I thought," I remarked
aloud, "the poor fellow still feels under an obligation to
me!"--"Believe me, monsieur, it is with poignant grief I write this
brief note."--"Ah," I continued, "he has discovered some fresh villainy.
Well, well, it is of little consequence."--"I have been with Monseigneur
at St. Jean d'Angely----"

"D'Angely!" I cried; "Felix, he has been at the siege. Read it, my
friend, my eyes swim, I cannot see the letters, they all run into one
another."--"Your father was the bravest."--"Oh, Felix, Felix, do you
understand? How can I tell them? How can I comfort them? And I