od news for you."

The hunchback answered, quietly: "Good news is always welcome." And to
the ears of Peyrolles the voice was the voice of AEsop, and to the eyes of
Peyrolles the form and the face of the speaker were the form and the face
of AEsop.

Peyrolles went on: "His highness the Prince de Gonzague is delighted with
the girl you have found; she will pass admirably for the girl of
Nevers."

The seeming AEsop nodded his head and said, quietly: "I am glad to hear
it."

"The Prince wishes to see you," Peyrolles continued. "The Prince wishes
you to enter his service. Master AEsop, Master AEsop, your fortune is made,
thanks to me."

"Thanks to me, I think," the hunchback commented, dryly.

Peyrolles shrugged his shoulders. "As you please," he said. "Come to the
Hotel de Gonzague to-morrow, and ask for me."

"I will come," the hunchback promised. Then Peyrolles hastened over the
bridge, and made all speed to rejoin his master.

When he was well on his way the hunchback drew himself into a chair,
laughing heartily. "Oh, AEsop, AEsop," Lagardere murmured to himself, "how
vexed you would be if you knew how useful you prove to me!"

XIX

THE HALL OF THE THREE LOUIS

One of the handsomest rooms in the Palace of Gonzague, as the Palace of
Nevers was now called, was known as the Hall of the Three Louis. It was
so called on account of the three life-sized portraits which it
contained. The first was the portrait of the late duke, Louis de Nevers,
in all the pride of that youth and joyousness which was so tragically
extinguished in the moat of Caylus. His fair hair fell about his
delicate, eager face; his left hand rested upon the hilt of the sword he
knew how to use so well; his right hand, perhaps in the pathos, perhaps
in the irony of the painter's intention, was pressed against his heart,
for Louis de Nevers had been a famous lover in his little day, but never
so true a lover as when he wooed and won the daughter of the hostile
house of Caylus. A heavy curtain by the side of the picture masked an
alcove sacred to the memory of Nevers.

Facing the portrait of the dead duke was the portrait of his successor,
of the present master of the house. Louis de Gonzague, in all other
things a contrast to Louis de Nevers, contrasted with him most
flagrantly in appearance. Against the fair, boyish face of Nevers you had
to set the saturnine Italianate countenance of Gonzague. The brilliancy
of Louis de Nevers was al