ng that of St. Auban's
arrival at Blois, and I was on the point of setting out for the chateau
on an errand of warning.

It occurred to me to refuse to see the Marquis, but remembering betimes
that from your enemy's speech you may sometimes learn where to look for
his next attack, I thought better of it and bade my host admit him.

I strode over to the fire, and stirring the burning logs, I put my back
to the blaze, and waited.

Steps sounded on the stairs; there was the shuffling of the landlord's
slippered feet and the firm tread of my visitor, accompanied by
the jingle of spurs and the clank of his scabbard as it struck the
balustrade. Then my door was again opened, and St. Auban, as superbly
dressed as ever, was admitted.

We bowed formally, as men bow who are about to cross swords, and whilst
I waited for him to speak, I noted that his face was pale and bore the
impress of suppressed anger.

"So, M. de Luynes, again we meet."

"By your seeking, M. le Marquis."

"You are not polite."

"You are not opportune."

He smiled dangerously.

"I learn, Monsieur, that you are a daily visitor at the Chateau de
Canaples."

"Well, sir, what of it?"

"This. I have been to Canaples this morning and, knowing that you will
learn anon, from that old dotard, what passed between us, I prefer that
you shall hear it first from me."

I bowed to conceal a smile.

"Thanks to you, M. de Luynes, I was ordered from the house. I--Cesar
de St. Auban--have been ordered from the house of a provincial upstart!
Thanks to the calumnies which you poured into his ears."

"Calumnies! Was that the word?"

"I choose the word that suits me best," he answered, and the rage that
was in him at the affront he had suffered at the hands of the Chevalier
de Canaples was fast rising to the surface. "I warned you at Choisy of
what would befall. Your opposition and your alliance with M. de Mancini
are futile. You think to have gained a victory by winning over to your
side an old fool who will sacrifice his honour to see his daughter a
duchess, but I tell you, sir--"

"That you hope to see her a marchioness," I put in calmly. "You see, M.
de St. Auban, I have learned something since I came to Blois."

He grew livid with passion.

"You shall learn more ere you quit it, you meddler! You shall be taught
to keep that long nose of yours out of matters that concern you not."

I laughed.

"Loud threats!" I answered jeeringly.

"Never fear," he