taking me by the hand in the most
obliging manner, he made me walk up and down with him, while he told me
what further thoughts he had of this affair; and, hiding nothing from
me, even as he bade me speak to him whatever I thought without reserve,
he required to know whether I suspected that the Entragues family were
cognizant of this.

"I cannot say, sire," I answered, prudently.

"But you suspect?"

"In your Majesty's cause I suspect all," I replied.

He sighed, and seeing that my eyes wandered to the group of gentlemen
who had betaken themselves to the terrace steps, and were thence
watching us, he asked me if I would answer for them. "For Vitry, who
sleeps at my feet when I lie alone? For Coquet?"

"For three of them I will, sire," I answered, firmly. "The fourth I do
not know."

"He is M. Louis d'Entragues."

"Ah! the count of Auvergne's half-brother?" I muttered. "And lately
returned from service in Savoy? I do not know him, your Majesty. I will
answer to-morrow."

"And to-day?" the king asked, with impatience.

Thereupon I begged him to act as he had done each day since his arrival
at Fontainebleau--to hunt in the morning, to take his midday meal at
Malesherbes, to talk to all as if he had no suspicion; only on his
return to take any road save that which passed the Rock of the Serpents.

The king turning to rejoin the others, I found that their attention was
no longer directed to us, but to a singular figure which had made its
appearance on the skirts of the group, and was seemingly prevented from
joining it outright only by the evident merriment with which three of
the four courtiers regarded it. The fourth, M. d'Entragues, did not seem
to be equally diverted with the stranger's quaint appearance, nor did
I fail to notice, being at the moment quick to perceive the slightest
point in his conduct, that, while the others were nudging one another,
his countenance, darkened by an Italian sun, gloomed on the new-comer
with an aspect of angry discomfiture. On his side, M. de Boisrose--for
he it was, the aged fashion of his dress more conspicuous than
ever--stood eyeing the group in mingled pride and resentment, until,
aware of his Majesty's approach, and seeing me in intimate converse with
him, he joyfully stepped forward, a look of relief taking place of all
others on his countenance.

"Ha, well met!" quoth the king in my ear. "It is your friend of
yesterday. Now we will have some sport."

Accordingly,