back
with the stream to Chambord. Thereafter, God pity the poor lady if they
get thus far without mishap."

"Mort de ma vie!" I cried, slapping my thigh, "I understand!" And to
myself I thought of the assignation at St. Sulpice des Reaux, and the
reason for this, as also St. Auban's resolution to so suddenly quit
Blois, grew of a sudden clear to me. Also did I recall the riddle
touching Vilmorin's conduct which a few moments ago I had puzzled over,
and of which methought that I now held the solution.

"What do you understand?" asked Malpertuis.

"Something that was told me this morning," I made answer, then spoke of
gratitude, wherein he cut me short.

"I ask no thanks," he said curtly. "You owe me none. What I have done
is not for love of you or Mancini--for I love neither of you. It is done
because noblesse m'oblige. I told St. Auban that I would have no part in
this outrage. But that is not enough; I owe it to my honour to attempt
the frustration of so dastardly a plan. You, M. de Luynes, appear to
be the most likely person to encompass this, in the interests of your
friend Mancini; I leave the matter, therefore, in your hands. Good-day!"

And with this abrupt leave-taking, the little fellow doffed his hat
to me, and wheeling his horse he set spurs in its flanks, and was gone
before a word of mine could have stayed him.

CHAPTER XI. OF A WOMAN'S OBSTINACY

"M. de Luynes is a wizard," quoth Andrea, laughing, in answer to
something that had been said.

It was afternoon. We had dined, and the bright sunshine and spring-like
mildness of the weather had lured us out upon the terrace. Yvonne and
Genevieve occupied the stone seat. Andrea had perched himself upon the
granite balustrade, and facing them he sat, swinging his shapely legs
to and fro as he chatted merrily, whilst on either side of him stood the
Chevalier de Canaples and I.

"If M. de Luynes be as great a wizard in other things as with the sword,
then, pardieu, he is a fearful magician," said Canaples.

I bowed, yet not so low but that I detected a sneer on Yvonne's lips.

"So, pretty lady," said I to myself, "we shall see if presently your lip
will curl when I show you something of my wizard's art."

And presently my chance came. M. de Canaples found reason to leave us,
and no sooner was he gone than Genevieve remembered that she had that
day discovered a budding leaf upon one of the rose bushes in the garden
below. Andrea naturally caused