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The pale yellow beams of the sun broke in brilliant flashes against the windows of the Priory of Jacobins, while above the city, the still sleeping city, rose long spiral threads of opal-tinted smoke. Five years. And for what? Friendship. How simple to have told Mazarin that he had loaned the cloak to Victor de Saumaise. A dozen words. His head was throbbing violently and his throat was hot.
He bared his head, looked serenely into Victor's doubting eyes, and turned to the Chevalier, whose face was without any sign of welcome or displeasure. "Monsieur," the vicomte began, "it is very embarrassing Patience, Monsieur de Saumaise!" for Victor had laid his hand upon his sword; "my errand is purely pacific. It is very embarrassing, then, to approach a man so deeply in trouble as yourself.
He was about to rush after madame, when his steps were arrested by a voice coming from the stairs. The vicomte was descending. "Ah, Monsieur de Saumaise," said the vicomte, "how fortunate to find you alone!" "Fortunate, indeed!" replied Victor. Here was a man upon whom to wreak his wrath, disappointment and despair. Justice or injustice, neither balanced on the scales of his wrath.
"Will you grant me the pleasure of showing you the mission?" "No, Monsieur le Chevalier; Monsieur de Saumaise and Brother Jacques have already offered to do that service. Monsieur," decidedly, "is it to be peace or war?" "Should I be here else?" "Else what, peace or war?" "Neither. I shall know no peace. I have followed you, as I said, though indirectly."
"Let us wait and see what this is," and the vicomte touched the Chevalier on the arm. "Curse you all!" cried D'Hérouville passionately. "Liar!" He turned upon Victor. "But for your lying tongue, I should not be here." "After Monsieur le Chevalier," said the poet, forgetting that he could not hold a sword. "Rather say after me, Saumaise;" and the vicomte smiled significantly.
Control yourself, Monsieur de Saumaise, and the day will come when you will thank me for the advice. As you have no incentive for running away, I will put you on your word, and the vicomte also. You may go. While I admire the spirit which led you to take up the Chevalier's cause, I deplore it. Who, then, will succeed Monsieur le Marquis?" "That is a question I can not answer.
"Let me see; there was a line worthy of Monsieur de Saumaise at his best. Ah, yes! 'I kiss your handsome grey eyes a thousand times'! Ah well, let us give the Chevalier credit; he certainly has a handsome pair of eyes, as many a dame and demoiselle at court will attest. It was truly a delightful letter; only the music of it was somewhat inharmonious to my ears."
Victor rose, white and trembling. "Sit down, Monsieur de Saumaise," commanded the governor, sternly. "He calls himself the Chevalier du Cévennes." De Leviston smiled. Every eye was leveled at the Chevalier. Victor felt his heart swelling. It had come at last! Brother Jacques leaned forward, peering into every face.
Horns of Panurge! did you Huguenots eat so many horses that your gorge rises at the smell of one?" "Monsieur, are you indeed from the king?" asked Du Puys courteously. The very coolness of the stranger marked him as a man of importance. "I have that honor." "May I be so forward as to ask your name?" "Victor de Saumaise, cadet in her Majesty's Guards, De Guitaut's company." "And your business?"
I have had many desires and many obstacles, and I am still living." "But you may be killed abroad. That would disappoint me terribly." "Monsieur de Saumaise, I have seen for some months that you have been nourishing a secret antipathy to me. Be frank enough to explain why our admiration is not mutual." The vicomte seated himself on a bench, and threw his scabbard across his knees.
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