"Yet it seems I am not the first to need your services this morning."

"How?" exclaimed he. "You are mistaken. No one but yourself has been here since yesterday."

"Well, I was certainly under the impression that two men entered this house, as I approached it. But it is no concern of mine, except that their presence might interfere with my errand. Be kind enough to read this note, and to give me a written reply for the Cardinal."

Breaking the seal, he read the missive, and sitting down, rapidly covered a sheet of paper with small, cramped, but legible writing, while I stood on guard and alert, half expecting a sudden attack from some unknown enemies.

However, nothing unusual happened. The astrologer finished his letter, sealed it, and handed it to me, saying earnestly, "Take care of this, as it is of more consequence than you may imagine. Further, it is necessary that His Eminence should receive it without delay."

"_Peste!_" answered I laughing; "as my breakfast still waits for me in the Rue des Catonnes I am not likely to waste much time on the road,"

and, bidding him adieu, I followed the servant, who had remained in the corridor, downstairs.

"Monsieur has discovered his error?" said the fellow, questioningly, as he conducted me along the narrow pa.s.sage.

"Yes, the men must have gone into the next house. However, it does not matter one way or another. I only feared to be kept waiting."

It was pleasant to be in the open air again, and I drew a deep breath.

The janitor barred the door, and I crossed the road in a state of bewilderment. That two men had entered the house I felt positive, and the more so from the odd behaviour of Martin and his servant. Who were they? What did they want? Why had Martin lied about the matter?

These questions, and others like them, kept my brain busily employed, but to no purpose. I could supply no satisfactory answers, and every pa.s.sing moment left me more perplexed.

It struck me once that Martin was playing the Cardinal false, but this seemed absurd, and yet----

"No, no," I muttered, "he would not dare. Still, there is something going on with which Mazarin should be made acquainted."

I did not relish the idea of playing the spy, but I was breaking no confidence, and, after all, it was necessary to protect one's own friends. My plan was soon formed. I walked along the narrow street, waited five minutes at the farther end, and returned cautiously to a dingy cabaret, from which a good view of the house could be obtained.

"Now," thought I, "unless my wits are wool-gathering, I am about to behold a miracle. I am going to see two men leave a place which they did not enter. Surely this Martin is something more than an astrologer?"

For nearly an hour I remained with my eyes fixed on the door, which, however, remained closed, and I began to feel a trifle discouraged.

What if I had discovered a mare's nest? The important letter was still in my pocket, and Mazarin would be none too pleased at the delay.

Perhaps it would be best to abandon the enterprise and to return at once.

I had almost resolved on this plan when two men strolled past the inn.

Filled with amazement, I rose quickly, and went into the street. The door of the astrologer's house was shut; in truth it had not been opened, yet here were my mysterious strangers several yards in front of me! Rubbing my eyes, I wondered if I had made a second blunder! But that was impossible, and the idea not worth considering. While I stood thus, dazed and half-stupefied by the strangeness of the affair, the men had walked half-way along the street.

Paris was now fully awake, the shops were open, people were hurrying to their daily tasks, and the number of persons abroad made it difficult to keep sight of my quarry. Several times the men stopped, and glanced behind, as if afraid of being followed, but they did not notice me, and, after a long roundabout journey, we all reached the Rue St.

Dominique.

Here the strangers, evidently concluding that caution was no longer necessary, pushed back their hats and drew their cloaks from their faces. It was as I had suspected from the first--the tall man was my cousin Henri, but his companion was unknown to me. Taking a good look, in order to describe him to Mazarin, I found him to be a short, dark man, with an ugly face, but beautiful white teeth. His eyes were beady and restless, he was bandy-legged, and walked with a peculiarly awkward gait.

Half-way along the street the two stopped outside a handsome building, conversed earnestly together for several minutes, and then, ascending the steps, disappeared.

"Pouf!" I exclaimed. "What can that little bandy-legged fellow be doing at the Hotel de Chevreuse? I wager he and my cousin are brewing some fresh mischief."

As no good could possibly come from further waiting, I turned away, and hurried back to the Palais Royal, eager to inform Mazarin of my discovery, and to get my breakfast. Roland Belloc met me in the courtyard, and held up a warning finger.

"You are in disgrace, my friend," said he, gravely; "the Cardinal has been waiting for you a long time. He has sent out repeatedly in the last hour to ask if you had returned."

"He will forgive the delay--I have discovered something of importance."

Dressed in his ceremonial robes, the Cardinal sat at the table, with an ominous frown on his face.

"The letter!" he cried impatiently, directly on my entrance. "Where is Martin's list? By my faith, M. de Lalande, you do well to keep Her Majesty waiting a whole hour!" and he took the paper from my hand somewhat ungraciously.

The letter apparently contained good news, and the Cardinal, smiling almost joyously, rose to leave the room.

"One moment, my Lord," I observed, "I have something to tell you which may be important."

"It must stay till after the audience; I cannot keep the Queen waiting longer. I shall return in an hour or two. Meanwhile Bernouin will see that you obtain some breakfast," and he summoned his secretary.

"M. de Lalande has not breakfasted," said he. "I leave him in your charge. Meanwhile I can see no one. Do you understand?"

Bernouin, a man of few words, responded by a low bow.

After partaking of a hearty breakfast, I lay down upon a couch, and, being thoroughly tired, fell fast asleep, not waking again till towards the middle of the afternoon, when Bernouin came to say the Cardinal awaited me.

Jumping up, I followed the secretary, not wishing to receive a further reproof from the minister. Pausing at the door, Bernouin gave a discreet tap, which was answered by Mazarin.

"M. de Lalande," announced the secretary, and at a sign from the Cardinal withdrew.

Mazarin was writing, but, laying down his pen, he motioned me to a seat opposite him.

"You have breakfasted, have you not?" he asked.

"Yes, my Lord, thank you," I replied.

He smiled affably, and was plainly in good humour--the result perhaps of his morning's work. Suddenly this mood changed, the frown came back to his face, and he exclaimed sternly, "I had almost forgotten. Why were you so long on your errand this morning?"

"That is what I wished to speak of, your Eminence, but I am confident you will agree that I acted rightly."

"I dislike putting the cart before the horse," said he; "the verdict should follow the evidence. It will be better for you to relate the story first."

Picking up his pen again, he sat twisting it between his fingers, but looking me straight in the face, and listening intently to every word.

He did not once attempt to interrupt, but preserved his patience until the end.

"Chut! my dear Martin," said he, when I had finished, just as if the astrologer were present; "we were mistaken. This young provincial has eyes in his head after all. M. de Lalande, not a word, not a syllable of this to any one. Should you babble, the Bastille is not so full but that it can accommodate another tenant. Now, let us go through the story again. As you rightly observe, it is most interesting, quite like a romance. These men were in the house; of that you are sure?"

I bowed.

"Very good. And our friend Martin denied having seen them?"

"He declared I was his first visitor this morning."

"You did not press the point?"

"Not at all, my Lord. I considered it better to admit my mistake, and to allow the subject to drop."

"In that you did well. You are really learning fast, and I shall find you of service yet. Now let us proceed. You saw the two men again, but they did not come out of Martin's house. Are you certain about that?"