" said the duke lowly, "that paper, and my word as a
gentleman, you shall go free."

"Paper? I do not understand your Highness."

"Come, come, Monsieur," said the duke impatiently; "it is your liberty.
Besides, I am willing to pay well."

"Your Highness," coldly, "you are talking over my head. I do not
understand a word you say."

Beaufort stared into the Chevalier's face. "Why did you enter De
Brissac's . . . ?"

"I have explained all that to monseigneur, the cardinal. Is everybody
mad in Paris?" with a burst of anger. "I arrive in Paris at six this
evening, and straightway I am accused of having killed a man I have
seen scarce a half dozen times in my life. And now your Highness talks
of papers! I know nothing about papers. Ask Mazarin, Monsieur.
Mazarin knows that I was not in Paris yesterday."

"What!" incredulously.

"Messieurs," called the Chevalier. The musketeers returned. "Tell his
Highness for me that monseigneur acquits me of all connection with the
De Brissac affair, and that I am being punished and exiled because I
happen to possess a grey cloak."

"It is true, your Highness."

"Whom are you shielding?" demanded the prince with an oath. He was
alarmed.

"Since I refused to tell his Eminence it is not probable that I shall
tell your Highness."

Beaufort left in a rage. The prince's lackey spent a most
uncomfortable hour that night when his Highness, son of Monsieur le Duc
de Vendome, retired.

The Chevalier espied a yellow _caleche_, Mademoiselle de Longueville
herself in the act of entering it. Mademoiselle was the only person he
knew to be in the confidence of Diane.

"Messieurs, will you permit me to speak to Mademoiselle de
Longueville?" he asked.

"Do you think that monsieur can see mademoiselle?" said one to the
other, humorously.

"It is too dark for him to see her. His Eminence said nothing about
Monsieur le Chevalier speaking to any one he could not see."

"Thanks, Messieurs, thanks!" And the Chevalier hastened to the
_caleche_. "Mademoiselle . . ."

"Monsieur," she interrupted, "I have a message for you. A certain lady
whom we both know requests me to say that she forbids you further to
address her. Her reasons . . . Well, she gives none. As for me,
Monsieur, I believe you to be a gentleman and a man of honor who is
above exile and calumny."

"God bless you, Mademoiselle. Tell her for me that whatever her
indictments are, I am innocent; and that we do