me first.
Who seconds M. de Canaples?"

"The Marquis de St. Auban and M. de Montmedy."

"And who is the third in our party?"

"I have none. I thought that perhaps you had a friend."

"I! A friend?" I laughed bitterly. "Pshaw, Andrea! beggars have no
friends. But stay; find Stanislas de Gouville. There is no better
blade in Paris. If he will join us in this frolic, and you can hold off
Canaples until either St. Auban or Montmedy is disposed of, we may yet
leave the three of them on the field of battle. Courage, Andrea! Dum
spiramus, speramus."

My words seemed to cheer him, and when presently he left me to seek out
the redoubtable Gouville, the poor lad's face was brighter by far than
when he had entered my room.

Down in my heart, however, I was less hopeful than I had led him to
believe, and as I dressed after he had gone, 't was not without some
uneasiness that I turned the matter over in my mind. I had, during the
short period of our association, grown fond of Andrea de Mancini. Indeed
the wonted sweetness of the lad's temper, and the gentleness of his
disposition, were such as to breed affection in all who came in contact
with him. In a way, too, methought he had grown fond of me, and I had
known so few friends in life,--truth to tell I fear me that I had few of
the qualities that engender friendship,--that I was naturally prone to
appreciate a gift that from its rareness became doubly valuable.

Hence was it that I trembled for the boy. He had shown aptitude with the
foils, and derived great profit from my tuition, yet he was too raw by
far to be pitted against so cunning a swordsman as Canaples.

I had but finished dressing when a coach rumbled down the street and
halted by my door. Naturally I supposed that someone came to visit
Coupri, the apothecary,--to whom belonged this house in which I had my
lodging,--and did not give the matter a second thought until Michelot
rushed in, with eyes wide open, to announce that his Eminence, Cardinal
Mazarin, commanded my presence in the adjoining room.

Amazed and deeply marvelling what so extraordinary a visit might
portend, I hastened to wait upon his Eminence.

I found him standing by the window, and received from him a greeting
that was passing curt and cavalier.

"Has M. de Mancini been here?" he inquired peremptorily, disregarding
the chair I offered him.

"He has but left me, Monseigneur."

"Then you know, sir, of the harvest which he has already reap