ittler of nobles who is not a gentleman."

"Mort Dieu, Monsieur--"

"One moment, M. de Luynes. This adventurer, not content with the
millions which his avaricious talons have dragged from the people for
his own benefit, seeks, by means of illustrious alliances, to enrich a
pack of beggarly nieces and nephews that he has rescued from the squalor
of their Sicilian homes to bring hither. His nieces, the Mancinis and
Martinozzis, he is marrying to Dukes and Princes. 'T is not nice to
witness, but 't is the affair of the men who wed them. In seeking,
however, to marry his nephew Andrea to one of the greatest heiresses in
France, he goes too far. Yvonne de Canaples is for some noble countryman
of her own--there are many suitors to her hand--and for no nephew of
Giulio Mazarini. Her brother Eugene, himself, thinks thus, and therein,
M. de Luynes, you have the real motive of the quarrel which he provoked
with Andrea, and which, had you not interfered, could have had but one
ending."

"Why do you tell me all this, Monsieur?" I inquired coldly, betraying
none of the amazement his last words gave birth to.

"So that you may know the true position of affairs, and, knowing it, see
the course which the name you bear must bid you follow. Because Canaples
failed am I here to-day. I had not counted upon meeting you, but since
I have met you, I have set the truth before you, confident that you
will now withdraw from an affair to which no real interest can bind you,
leaving matters to pursue their course."

He eyed me, methought, almost anxiously from under his brows, as he
awaited my reply. It was briefer than he looked for.

"You have wasted time, Monsieur."

"How? You persist?"

"Yes. I persist. Yet for the Cardinal I care nothing. Mazarin has
dismissed me from his service unjustly and unpaid. He has forbidden me
his nephew's company. In fact, did he know of my presence here with M.
de Mancini, he would probably carry out his threat to hang me."

"Ciel!" cried St. Auban, "you are mad, if that be so. France is divided
into two parties, cardinalists and anti-cardinalists. You, sir, without
belonging to either, stand alone, an enemy to both. Your attitude is
preposterous!"

"Nay, sir, not alone. There is Andrea de Mancini. The boy is my only
friend in a world of enemies. I am growing fond of him, Monsieur, and
I will stand by him, while my arm can wield a sword, in all that may
advance his fortunes and his happiness. That, Mon