Monsieur
de Marillac, whose daughter took the veil for love of him; to you,
Monsieur de Barbanchois, who fortified against him the dwelling of your
lady love; to you, Monsieur de la Ferte, who lost to him one evening your
Castle of Senneterre; to you, Monsieur de Vauguyon, whose shoulder should
still remember the stroke of his sword."

As AEsop spoke, he addressed in turn each of the elder men, and as he
spoke recognition of his meaning showed itself in the face of each man
whom he addressed.

Hunaudaye nodded. "Louis de Nevers," he said, solemnly.

Instantly AEsop uncovered. "Yes, Louis de Nevers, who was assassinated
under the walls of the Castle of Caylus twenty years ago."

Chavernay came over to AEsop. "My father was a friend of Louis de
Nevers."

AEsop looked from the group of old men to the group of young men. "It is
the ghost of Nevers that troubles us to-night. There were three Louis in
those days, brothers in arms. Louis of France did all he could to find
the assassin of Nevers. In vain. Louis de Gonzague did all he could to
find the assassin of Nevers. In vain. Well, gentlemen, would you believe
it, to-night Louis of France and Louis de Gonzague will be told the name
of the assassin of Nevers?"

"And the name?" asked Chavernay.

Choisy plucked him impatiently by the sleeve. "Don't you see that the
humpbacked fool is making game of us?"

AEsop shrugged his shoulders. "As you please, sirs, as you please; but
that is why the guards are doubled."

He turned on his heel, and walked leisurely away from the two groups of
gentlemen. The elders, having little in common with Gonzague's friends,
followed his example, and drifted off together, talking to one another in
a low voice of the gallant gentleman whose name had suddenly been
recalled to their memories at that moment. Gonzague's gang stared at one
another, feeling vaguely discomfited.

"The man is mad," said Gironne.

"There seems a method in his madness," said Chavernay, dryly.

Albret interrupted them. "Here comes his majesty."

"And, as I live, with the Princess de Gonzague!" Montaubert cried,
amazed.

Oriol elevated his fat palms. "Wonders will never cease!"

XXIV

THE ROSE-COLORED DOMINO

All the party bowed respectfully as the king came slowly down the great
walk, giving his arm to the Princess de Gonzague. Then, anxious to avoid
any appearance of intruding upon the privacy of the monarch, they drifted
off in search of fresh a