pany us, which rendered my plan more feasible. Our road lay for
a league in the direction of the Rock of the Serpents, the track which
passed the latter presently diverging from it. For some distance we rode
along in easy talk, but, on approaching the point of separation, the
king looked at me with a whimsical air, as though he would lay on me
the burden of finding an excuse for avoiding the shorter way home. I
had foreseen this, and looked round to ascertain the position of our
company. I found that La Varenne and D'Entragues were close behind us,
while the troopers, with La Trape and Boisrose, were a hundred paces
farther to the rear, and Vitry and Coquet had dropped out of sight. This
being so, I suddenly reined in my horse so as to back it into that of
D'Entragues, and then wheeled round on the latter, taking care to be
between him and the king.

"M. Louis d'Entragues," I said, dropping the mask and addressing him
with all the scorn and detestation which I felt, and which he deserved,
"your plot is discovered! If you would save your life confess to his
Majesty here and now all you know, and throw yourself on his mercy!"

I confess that I had failed to take into account the pitch to which his
nerves would be strung at such a time, and had expected to produce
a greater effect than followed my words. His hand went indeed to his
breast, but it was hard to say which was the more discomposed, La
Varenne or he. And the manner in which, with scorn and defiance, he
flung back my accusation in my teeth, lacked neither vigour nor
the semblance of innocence. While Henry was puzzled, La Varenne was
appalled. I saw that I had gone too far, or not far enough, and at once
calling into my face and form all the sternness in my power, I bade the
traitor remain where he was, then turning to his Majesty I craved leave
to speak to him apart.

He hesitated, looking from me to D'Entragues with an air of displeasure
which embraced us both, but in the end, without permitting M. Louis to
speak, he complied, and, going aside with me, bade me, with coldness,
speak out.

As soon, however, as I had repeated to him Boisrose's words, his face
underwent a change, for he, too, had remarked the discomfiture which the
latter's appearance had caused D'Entragues in the morning.

"Ha! the villain!" he said. "I do not now think you precipitate. Arrest
him at once, but do him no harm!"

"If he resist, sire?" I asked.

"He will not," the king answere