'IhaveheardyousaymuchthesameoftheKingofFrance,'I
　　saidderisively.
　　'Youtrustinhim?'heretorted,hiseyesgleaming.'Youhavebeenupthere,andseenhiscrowdedchamber,andcountedhisforty-fivegentlemenandhisgrey-coatedSwiss?Itellyouthesplendouryousawwasadream,andwillvanishasadream.Theman'sstrengthandhisgloryshallgofromhim,andthatsoon.
　　Haveyounoeyestoseethatheisbesidethequestion?TherearebuttwopowersinFrance——theHolyUnion,whichstillprevails,andtheaccursedHuguenot;andbetweenthemisthebattle.'
　　'Nowyouaretellingmemore,'Isaid.
　　Hegrewsoberinamoment,lookingatmewithaviciousangerhardtodescribe.
　　'Tuttut,'hesaid,showinghisyellowteeth,'thedeadtellnotales.AndforHenryofValois,hesolovesamonkthatyoumightbetteraccusehismistress.Butforyou,Ihaveonlytocry"Ho!aHuguenotandaspy!"andthoughhelovedyoumorethanhelovedQuelusorMaugiron,hedarenotstretchoutafingertosaveyou!'
　　Iknewthathespokethetruth,andwithdifficultymaintainedtheairofindifferencewithwhichIhadenteredontheinterview.
　　'ButwhatifIleaveBlois?'Iventured,merelytoseewhathewouldsay.
　　Helaughed.'Youcannot,'heanswered.'Thenetisroundyou,M.deMarsac,andtherearethoseateverygatewhoknowyouandhavetheirinstructions.Icandestroyyou,butIwouldfainhaveyourinformation,andforthatIwillpayyoufivehundredcrownsandletyougo.'
　　'TofallintothehandsoftheKingofNavarre?'
　　'Hewilldisownyou,inanycase,'heansweredeagerly.'Hehadthatinhismind,myfriend,whenheselectedanagentsoobscure.Hewilldisownyou.Ah,monDieu!hadIbeenanhourquickerIhadcaughtRosny——Rosnyhimself!'
　　'Thereisonethinglackingstill,'Ireplied.'HowamItobesurethat,whenIhavetoldyouwhatIknow,youwillpaymethemoneyorletmego?'
　　'Iwillsweartoit!'heansweredearnestly,deceivedintothinkingIwasabouttosurrender.'Iwillgiveyoumyoath,M.
　　deMarsac!'
　　'Iwouldassoonhaveyourshoe-lace!'Iexclaimed,theindignationIcouldnotentirelyrepressfindingventinthatphrase.'AChurchman'svowisworthacandle——oracandleandahalf,isit?'Icontinuedironically.'Imusthavesomesecurityagreatdealmoresubstantialthanthat,father.'
　　'What?'heasked,lookingatmegloomily.
　　Seeinganopening,Icudgelledmybrainstothinkofanyconditionwhich,beingfulfilled,mightturnthetableonhimandplacehiminmypower.Buthispositionwassostrong,ormywitssoweak,thatnothingoccurredtomeatthetime,andIsatlookingat,him,mymindgraduallypassingfromthepossibilityofescapetotheactualdangerinwhichIstood,andwhichencompassedalsoSimonFleix,and,inadegree,doubtless,M.deRambouillet.Infourorfivedays,too,MademoiselledelaVirewouldarrive.IwonderedifIcouldsendanywarningtoher;andthen,again,IdoubtedthewisdomofinterferingwithM.deRosny'splans,themoreasMaignan,whohadgonetofetchmademoiselle,wasofakindtodisregardanyorderssavehismaster's.
　　'Well!'saidthemonk,impatientlyrecallingmetomyself,'whatsecuritydoyouwant?'
　　'Iamnotquitesureatthismoment,'Imadeanswerslowly.'I
　　aminadifficultposition.Imusthavesometimetoconsider.'
　　'Andtoridyourselfofme,ifitbepossible,'hesaidwithirony.'Iquiteunderstand.ButIwarnyouthatyouarewatched;andthatwhereveryougoandwhateveryoudo,eyeswhicharemineareuponyou.'
　　'I,too,understand,'Isaidcoolly.
　　Hestoodawhileuncertain,regardingmewithmingleddoubtandmalevolence,torturedontheonehandbyfearoflosingtheprizeifhegranteddelay,ontheotheroffailingasutterlyifheexertedhispoweranddidnotsucceedinsubduingmyresolution.
　　Iwatchedhim,too,andgauginghiseagernessandthevalueofthestakeforwhichhewasstrivingbythestrengthofhisemotions,drewsmallcomfortfromthesight.Morethanonceithadoccurredtome,andnowitoccurredtomeagain,toextricatemyselfbyablow.Butanaturalreluctancetostrikeanunarmedman,howevervileandknavish,andthebeliefthathehadnottrustedhimselfinmypowerwithouttakingthefullestprecautions,withheldme.Whenhegrudgingly,andwithmanydarkthreats,proposedtowaitthreedays——andnotanhourmore——formyanswer,Iaccepted;forIsawnootheralternativeopen.Andontheseterms,butnotwithoutsomeshortdiscussion,weparted,andIheardhisstealthyfootstepgosneakingdownthestairs.
　　CHAPTERXIX.
　　MENCALLITCHANCE.
　　IfIweretellingmorethanthetruth,orhaditinmymindtoembellishmyadventures,Icould,doubtless,bytheexerciseofalittleingenuitymakeitappearthatIowedmyescapefromFatherAntoine'smeshestomyowncraft;andtell,infine,asprettyastoryofplotsandcounterplotsasM.deBrantomehaseverwoven.
　　Havingnodesire,however,tomagnifymyselfand,atthistimeofday,scarcelyanyreason,Iamfaintoconfessthatthereversewasthecase;andthatwhilenomaneverdidlesstofreehimselfthanIdid,myadversaryretainedhisgrasptotheend,andhadsurely,butforastrangeinterposition,effectedmyruin.Howreliefcame,andfromwhatquarter,Imightdefythemostingeniousperson,afterreadingmymemoirstothispoint,tosay;
　　andthisnotsomuchbyreasonofanysubtledevice,asbecausethehandofProvidencewasforoncedirectlymanifest.
　　ThethreedaysofgracewhichthepriesthadgrantedIpassedinanxiousbutfutilesearchforsomemeansofescape,everyplanI
　　conceiveddyingstillborn,andnottheleastofmymiserieslyinginthefactthatIcoulddiscernnobettercoursethanstilltositandthink,andseemeddoomedtoperpetualinaction.M.deRambouilletbeingastrictCatholic,thoughinallotherrespectsapatrioticman,Iknewbetterthantohaverecoursetohim;andthepriest'sinfluenceoverM.d'AgenIhadmyselfwitnessed.
　　ForsimilarreasonsIrejectedtheideaofapplyingtotheking;
　　andthisexhaustingthelistofthoseonwhomIhadanyclaim,I
　　foundmyselfthrownonmyownresources,whichseemedlimited——mywitsfailingmeatthispinch——tomyswordandSimonFleix.
　　AssuredthatImustbreakoutofBloisifIwouldsavenotmyselfonly,butothersmorepreciousbecauseentrustedtomycharge,I
　　thoughtitnodisgracetoappealtoSimon;describinginalivelyfashionthedangerwhichthreatenedus,andincitingtheladbyeveryargumentwhichIthoughtlikelytohaveweightwithhimtodevisesomewayofescape.
　　Nowisthetime,myfriend,'Isaid,'toshowyourwits,andprovethatM.deRosny,whosaidyouhadacunningabovetheordinary,wasright.Ifyourbraincaneversaveyourhead,nowisthetime!ForItellyouplainly,ifyoucannotfindsomewaytooutmanoeuvrethisvillainbeforeto-morrow,Iamspent.Youcanjudgeforyourselfwhatchanceyouwillhaveofgoingfree.'
　　Ipausedatthat,waitingforhimtomakesomesuggestion.Tomychagrinheremainedsilent,leaninghisheadonhishand,andstudyingthetablewithhiseyesinasullenfashion;sothatI
　　begantoregretthecondescensionIhadevincedinlettinghimbeseated,andfounditnecessarytoremindhimthathehadtakenservicewithme,andmustdomybidding.
　　'Well,'hesaidmorosely,andwithoutlookingup,'Iamreadytodoit.ButIdonotlikepriests,andthisoneleastofall.I
　　knowhim,andIwillnotmeddlewithhim.'
　　'Youwillnotmeddlewithhim?'Icried,almostbesidemyselfwithdismay.
　　'No,Iwon't,'hereplied,retaininghislistlessattitude.'I
　　knowhim,andIamafraidofhim.Iamnomatchforhim.'
　　'ThenM.deRosnywaswrong,washe?'Isaid,givingwaytomyanger.
　　'Ifitpleaseyou,'heansweredpertly.
　　Thiswastoomuchforme.Myriding-switchlayhandy,andI
　　snatcheditup.BeforeheknewwhatIwouldbeat,Ifelluponhim,andgavehimsuchasoundwholesomedrubbingasspeedilybroughthimtohissenses.Whenhecriedformercy——whichhedidnotforagoodspace,beingstillpossessedbythepeevishdevilwhichhadriddenhimeversincehisdeparturefromRosny——IputittohimagainwhetherM.deRosnywasnotright.Whenheatlastadmittedthis,butnottillthen,Ithrewthewhipawayandlethimgo,butdidnotceasetoreproachhimashedeserved.
　　'Didyouthink,'Isaid,'thatIwasgoingtoberuinedbecauseyouwouldnotuseyourlazybrains?ThatIwasgoingtositstill,andletyousulk,whilemademoisellewalkedblindfoldintothetoils?Notatall,myfriend!'
　　'Mademoiselle!'heexclaimed,lookingatmewitha,suddenchangeofcountenance,endceasingtorubhimselfandscowl,ashehadbeendoing.'Sheisnothere,andisinnodanger.'
　　'Shewillbehereto-morrow,orthenextday,'Isaid.
　　Youdidnottellmethat!'hereplied,hiseyesglittering.
　　'DoesFatherAntoineknowit?'
　　'Hewillknowitthemomentsheentersthetown,'Ianswered.
　　Notingthechangewhichtheintroductionofmademoiselle'snameintotheaffairhadwroughtinhim,Ifeltsomethinglikehumiliation.ButatthemomentIhadnochoice;itwasmybusinesstousesuchinstrumentsascametomyhand,andnot,mademoiselle'ssafetybeingatstake,topickandchoosetoonicely.Inafewminutesourpositionswerereversed.TheladhadgrownashotasIcold,askeenlyexcitedasIcritical.
　　Whenhepresentlycametoastandinfrontofme,Isawastrangelikenessbetweenhisfaceandthepriest's;norwasIastonishedwhenhepresentlymadejustsuchaproposalasIshouldhaveexpectedfromFatherAntoinehimself.
　　'Thereisonlyonethingforit,'hemuttered,tremblingallover.'Hemustbegotridof!'
　　'Finetalking!'Isaid,contemptuously.'Ifhewereasoldierhemightbebroughttoit.Butheisapriest,myfriend,anddoesnotfight.'
　　'Fight?Whowantshimtofight?'theladanswered,hisfacedark,hishandsmovingrestlessly.'Itistheeasierdone.A
　　blowintheback,andhewilltroubleusnomore.'
　　'Whoistostrikeit?'Iaskeddrily.
　　Simontrembledandhesitated;butpresently,heavingadeepsigh,hesaid,'Iwill.'
　　'Itmightnotbedifficult,'Imuttered,thinkingitover.
　　'Itwouldbeeasy,'heansweredunderhisbreath.Hiseyesshone,hislipswerewhite,andhislongdarkhairhungwetoverhisforehead.
　　Ireflected,andthelongerIdidsothemorefeasibleseemedthesuggestion.Asingleword,andImightsweepfrommypaththemanwhoseexistencethreatenedmine;whowouldnotmeetmefairly,but,workingagainstmedarklyandtreacherously,deservednobettertreatmentatmyhandsthanthatwhichadetectedspyreceives.Hehadwrongedmymother;hewouldfaindestroymyfriends!
　　And,doubtless,Ishallbeblamedbysomeandridiculedbymoreforindulginginscruplesatsuchatime.ButIhaveallmylifelongbeenprejudicedagainstthatformofunderhandviolencewhichIhaveheardoldmencontendcameintofashioninourcountryinmoderntimes,andwhichcertainlyseemstobealienfromtheFrenchcharacter.Withoutjudgingotherstooharshly,orsayingthattheponiardisneverexcusable——forthenmightsomewrongsdonetowomenandthehelplessgowithoutremedy——I
　　havesetmyfaceagainstitsuseasunworthyofasoldier.Atthetime,moreover,ofwhichIamnowwritingtheextenttowhichourenemieshadlatelyresortedtoittendedtofixthisfeelingwithpeculiarfirmnessinmymind;and,butfortheverydesperatedilemmainwhichIstoodatthemoment——andnotI
　　alone——IdonotthinkthatIshouldhaveentertainedSimon'sproposalforaminute.
　　Asitwas,Ipresentlyansweredhiminawaywhichlefthiminnodoubtofmysentiments.'Simon,myfriend,'Isaid——andI
　　rememberIwasalittlemoved——'youhavesomethingstilltolearn,bothasasoldierandaHuguenot.Neithertheonenortheotherstrikesattheback.'
　　'Butifhewillnotfight?'theladretortedrebelliously.
　　'Whatthen?'
　　ItwassoclearthatouradversarygainedanunfairadvantageinthiswaythatIcouldnotanswerthequestion.Iletitpass,therefore,andmerelyrepeatingmyformerinjunction,badeSimonthinkoutanotherway.
　　Hepromisedreluctantlytodoso,and,afterspendingsomemomentsinthought,wentouttolearnwhetherthehousewasbeingwatched.
　　Whenhereturned,hiscountenanceworesonewanexpressionthatIsawatoncethatsomethinghadhappened.Hedidnotmeetmyeye,however,anddidnotexplain,butmadeasifhewouldgooutagain,withsomethingofconfusioninhismanner.Beforefinallydisappearing,however,heseemedtochangehismindoncemore;
　　for,marchinguptomewhereIstoodeyeinghimwiththeutmostastonishment,hestoppedbeforeme,andsuddenlydrawingouthishand,thrustsomethingintomine.
　　'Whatisit,man?'Isaidmechanically.
　　'Look!'heansweredrudely,breakingsilenceforthefirsttime.
　　'Youshouldknow.Whyaskme?WhathaveItodowithit?'
　　Ilookedthen,andsawthathehadgivenmeaknotofvelvetpreciselysimilarisshape,size,andmaterialtothatwell-
　　rememberedonewhichhadaidedmesoopportunelyinmysearchformademoiselle.Thisdifferedfromthatalittleincolour,butinnothingelse,thefashionofthebowbeingthesame,andonelappethearingtheinitials'C.d.l.V.,'whiletheotherhadthewords,'Amoi.'Igazedatitinwonder.'But,Simon,'I
　　said,'whatdoesitmean?Wheredidyougetit?'
　　'WhereshouldIgetit?'heansweredjealously.Then,seemingtorecollecthimself,hechangedhistone.'Awomangaveittomeinthestreet,'hesaid.
　　Iaskedhimwhatwoman.
　　'HowshouldIknow?'heanswered,hiseyesgleamingwithanger.
　　'Itwasawomaninamask.'
　　'WasitFanchette?'Isaidsternly.
　　'Itmighthavebeen.Idonotknow,'heresponded.
　　Iconcludedatfirstthatmademoiselleandherescorthadarrivedintheoutskirtsofthecity,andthatMaignanhadjustifiedhisreputationfordiscretionbysendingintolearnfrommewhetherthewaywasclearbeforeheentered.InthisnotionIwaspartlyconfirmedandpartlyshakenbytheaccompanyingmessage;whichSimon,fromwhomeveryscrapofinformationhadtobedraggedasbloodfromastone,presentlydelivered.
　　'Youaretomeetthesenderhalfanhouraftersunsetto-morrowevening,'hesaid,'ontheParvisatthenorth-eastcornerofthecathedral.'
　　'To-morrowevening?'
　　'Yes,whenelse?'theladansweredungraciously.'Isaidto-
　　morrowevening.'
　　Ithoughtthisstrange.IcouldunderstandwhyMaignanshouldprefertokeephischargeoutsidethewallsuntilheheardfromme,butnotwhyheshouldpostponeameetingsolong.Themessage,too,seemedunnecessarilymeagre,andIbegantothinkSimonwasstillwithholdingsomething.
　　'Wasthatall?'Iaskedhim.
　　'Yes,all,'heanswered,'except——'
　　'Exceptwhat?'Isaidsternly.
　　'ExceptthatthewomanshowedmethegoldtokenMademoiselledelaVireusedtocarry,'heansweredreluctantly,'andsaid,ifyouwantedfurtherassurancethatwouldsatisfyyou.'
　　'Didyouseethecoin?'Icriedeagerly.
　　'Tobesure,'heanswered.
　　'Then,mondieu!'Iretorted,'eitheryouaredeceivingme,orthewomanyousawdeceivedyou.Formademoisellehasnotgotthetoken!Ihaveithere,inmypossession!Now,doyoustillsayyonsawit,man?'
　　'Isawonelikeit,'heanswered,trembling,hisfacedamp.
　　'ThatIwillswear.AndthewomantoldmewhatIhavetoldyou.
　　Andnomore.'
　　'Thenitisclear,'Ianswered,'thatmademoisellehasnothingtodowiththis,andisdoubtlessmanyaleagueaway.ThisisoneofM.deBruhl'stricks.Fresnoygavehimthetokenhestolefromme.AndItoldhimthestoryofthevelvetknotmyself.
　　Thisisatrap;andhadIfallenintoit,andgonetotheParvisto-morrowevening,Ihadneverkeptanotherassignation,mylad.'
　　Simonlookedthoughtful.Presentlyhesaid,withacrestfallenair,'Youweretogoalone.Thewomansaidthat.'
　　ThoughIknewwellwhyhehadsuppressedthisitem,Iforboretoblamehim.'Whatwasthewomanlike?'Isaid.
　　'ShehadverymuchofFranchette'sfigure,'heanswered.Hecouldnotgobeyondthat.Blindedbytheideathatthewomanwasmademoiselle'sattendant,andnooneelse,hehadtakenlittleheedofher,andcouldnotevensayforcertainthatshewasnotamaninwoman'sclothes.
　　Ithoughtthematteroveranddiscusseditwithhim;andwasheartilymindedtopunishM.deBruhl,ifIcoulddiscoverawayofturninghistreacherousplotagainsthimself.Butthelackofanypreciseknowledgeofhisplanspreventedmestirringinthematter;themoreasIfeltnocertaintythatIshouldbemasterofmyactionswhenthetimecame.
　　StrangetosaythediscoveryofthismovementonthepartofBruhl,whohadsedulouslykepthimselfinthebackgroundsincethesceneintheking'spresence,farfromincreasingmyanxieties,hadtheeffectofadministeringafilliptomyspirits;whichthecoldandunyieldingpressureoftheJacobinhadreducedtoalowpoint.HerewassomethingIcouldunderstand,resist,andguardagainst.ThefeelingthatIhadoncemoretodowithamanoflikeaimsandpassionswithmyselfquicklyrestoredmetotheuseofmyfaculties;asIhaveheardthataswordsmanopposedtothepowersofevilregainshisvigouronfindinghimselfengagedwithamortalfoe.ThoughIknewthatthehoursofgracewerefastrunningtoaclose,andthatonthemorrowthepriestwouldcallforananswer,Iexperiencedthateveningan,unreasonablelightnessandcheerfulness.Iretiredtorestwithconfidence,andsleptiscomfort,supportedinpart,perhaps,bytheassurancethatinthatroomwheremymotherdiedherpersecutorcouldhavenopowertoharmme.
　　UponSimonFleix,ontheotherhand,thediscoverythatBruhlwasmoving,andthatconsequentlyperilthreatenedusfromanewquarter,hadadifferenteffect.Hefellintoastateofextremeexcitement,andspenttheeveningandagreatpartofthenightinwalkingrestlesslyupanddowntheroom,wrestlingwiththefearsandanxietieswhichbesetus,andnowtalkingfasttohimself,nowbitinghisnailsinanagonyofimpatience.InvainIadjuredhimnottomeettroubleshalfway;or,pointingtothepalletwhichheoccupiedatthefootofmycouch,badehim,ifhecouldnotdeviseawayofescape,atleasttoletthematterrestuntilmorning.Hehadnopowertoobey,but,torturedbythevividanticipationswhichitwashisnaturetoentertain,hecontinuedtorambletoandfroinafeverofthenerves,andhadnosoonerlaindownthanbewasupagain.Remembering,however,howwellhehadbornehimselfonthenightofmademoiselle'sescapefromBlois,Irefrainedfromcallinghimacoward;andcontentedmyselfinsteadwiththereflectionthatnothingsitsworseonafighting-manthantoomuchknowledge——except,perhaps,alivelyimagination.
　　IthoughtitpossiblethatmademoisellemightarrivenextdaybeforeFatherAntoinecalledtoreceivehisanswer.InthiseventIhopedtohavethesupportofMaignan'sexperience.Butthepartydidnotarrive.Ihadtorelyonmyselfandmyownresources,and,thisbeingso,determinedtorefusethepriest'soffer,butinallotherthingstobeguidedbycircumstances.
　　Aboutnoonhecame,attended,aswashispractice,bytwofriends,whomheleftoutside.Helookedpalerandmoreshadowythanbefore,Ithought,hishandsthinner,andhischeeksmoretransparent.Icoulddrawnogoodaugury,however,fromthese,signsoffrailty,forthebrightnessofhiseyesandtheunusualelationofhismannertoldplainlyofaspiritassuredofthemastery.Heenteredtheroomwithanairofconfidence,andaddressedmeinatoneofpatronagewhichleftmeinnodoubtofhisintentions;thefranknesswithwhichhenowlaidbarehisplansgoingfartoprovethatalreadyheconsideredmenobetterthanhistool.
　　Ididnotatonceundeceivehim,butallowedhimtoproceed,andeventobringoutthefivehundredcrownswhichhehadpromisedme,andthesightofwhichhedoubtlesssupposedwouldclenchthematter.
　　Seeingthishebecamestilllessreticent,andspokesolargelythatIpresentlyfeltmyselfimpelledtoaskhimifhewouldansweraquestion.
　　'Thatisasmaybe,M.deMarsac,'heansweredlightly.'Youmayaskit.'
　　'Youhintatgreatschemeswhichyouhaveinhand,father,'I
　　said.'YouspeakofFranceandSpainandNavarre,andkingsandLeaguesandcardinals!Youtalkofsecretstrings,andwouldhavemebelievethatifIcomplywithyourwishesIshallfindyouaspowerfulapatronasM.deRosny.But——onemoment,ifyouplease,'Icontinuedhastily,seeingthathewasabouttointerruptmewithsucheagerassurancesasIhadalreadyheard;
　　'tellmethis.Withsomanyironsinthefire,whydidyouinterferewithoneoldgentlewoman——forthesakeofafewcrowns?"
　　'Iwilltellyoueventhat,'heanswered,hisfaceflushingatmytone.'Haveyoueverheardofanelephant?Yes.Well,ithasatrunk,youknow,withwhichitcaneitherdraganoakfromtheearthorliftagroatfromtheground.Itissowithme.Butagainyouask,'hecontinuedwithanairygrimace,'whyIwantedafewcrowns.EnoughthatIdid.Therearegoingtobetwothingsintheworld,andtwoonly,M.deMarsac:brainsandmoney.TheformerIhave,andhad:thelatterIneeded——andtook.'
　　'Moneyandbrains?'Isaid,lookingathimthoughtfully.
　　'Yes,'heanswered,hiseyessparkling,histhinnostrilsbeginningtodilate.'Givemethesetwo,andIwillruleFrance!'
　　'YouwillruleFrance?'Iexclaimed,amazedbeyondmeasurebyhisaudacity.'You,man?'
　　'Yes,I,'heanswered,withabominablecoolness.'I,priest,monk,Churchman,clerk.Youlooksurprised,butmarkyou,sir,thereisachangegoingon.Ourtimeiscoming,andyoursisgoing.WhathampersourlordthekingandshutshimupinBlois,whilerebellionsstalkthroughFrance?Lackofmen?No;butlackofmoney.Whocangetthemoneyforhim——youthesoldier,orItheclerk?Athousandtimes,I!Therefore,mytimeiscoming,andbeforeyoudieyouwillseeapriestruleFrance.'
　　'Godforbiditshouldbeyou,'Iansweredscornfully.
　　'Asyouplease,'heanswered,shrugginghisshoulders,andassuminginabreathamaskofhumilitywhichsatasillonhismonstrousconceitasevernun'sveilonatrooper.'YetitmayevenbeI;bythefavouroftheHolyCatholicChurch,whosehumbleministerIam.'
　　Isprangupwithagreatoathatthat,havingnostomachformoreofthestrangetransformations,inwhichthismandelighted,andwhereofthelasthadevertheairofbeingthemosthateful.
　　'Youvillain!'Icried,twistingmymoustaches,ahabitIhavewhenenraged.'Andsoyouwouldmakemeastepping-stonetoyourgreatness.Youwouldbribeme——asoldierandagentleman.Go,beforeIdoyouamischief.ThatisallIhavetosaytoyou.
　　Go!Youhaveyouranswer.Iwilltellyounothing——notajotoratittle.Begonefrommyroom!'
　　Hefellbackastepinhissurprise,andstoodagainstthetablebitinghisnailsandscowlingatme,fearandchagrincontendingwithhalfadozendevilsforthepossessionofhisface.'Soyouhavebeendeceivingme,'hesaidslowly,andatlast.
　　'Ihaveletyoudeceiveyourself'Ianswered,lookingathimwithscorn,butwithlittleofthefearwithwhichhehadforawhileinspiredme.'Begone,anddoyourworst.'
　　'Youknowwhatyouaredoing,'hesaid.'Ihavethatwillhangyou,M.deMarsac——orworse.'
　　'Go!'Icried.
　　'Youhavethoughtofyourfriends,'hecontinuedmockingly.
　　'Go!'Isaid.
　　'OfMademoiselledelaVire,ifbyanychanceshefallintomyhands?Itwillnotbehangingforher.YourememberthetwoFoucauds?'——andhelaughed.
　　Thevilethreat,whichIknewhehadusedtomymother,soworkeduponmethatIstrodeforwardunabletocontrolmyselflonger.
　　InanothermomentIhadcertainlytakenhimbythethroatandsqueezedthelifeoutofhismiserablecarcase,hadnotProvidenceinitsgoodnessintervenedtosaveme.Thedoor,onwhichhehadalreadylaidhishandinterror,openedsuddenly.
　　ItadmittedSimon,who,closingit;behindhim,stoodlookingfromonetotheotherofusinnervousdoubt;dividedbetweenthatrespectforthepriestwhichatrainingattheSorbonnehadinstilledintohim,andtheragewhichdespairarousesintheweakest.
　　Hispresence,whileitcheckedmeinmypurpose,seemedtogiveFatherAntoinecourage,fortheprieststoodhisground,andeventurnedtomeasecondtime,hisfacedarkwithspiteanddisappointment.'Good,'hesaidhoarsely.'Destroyyourselfifyouwill!Iadviseyoutobaryourdoor,forinanhourtheguardswillbeheretofetchyoutothequestion.'
　　Simoncriedoutatthethreat,sothatIturnedandlookedatthelad.Hiskneeswereshaking,hishairstoodonend.
　　Thepriestsawhisterrorandhisownopportunity.'Ay,inanhour,'hecontinuedslowly,lookingathimwithcrueleyes.'Inanhour,lad!Youmustbefondofpaintocourtit,andoutofhumourwithlifetothrowitaway.Orstay,'hecontinuedabruptly,afterconsideringSimon'snarrowlyforamoment,anddoubtlessdeducingfromitalasthope,'Iwillbemerciful.I
　　willgiveyouonemorechance.'
　　'Andyourself?'Isaidwithasneer.
　　'Asyouplease,'heanswered,decliningtobedivertedfromthetremblinglad,whomhisgazeseemedtofascinate.'Iwillgiveyouuntilhalfanhouraftersunsetthiseveningtoreconsiderthematter.Ifyoumakeupyourmindstoacceptmyterms,meetmethen.Ileaveto-nightforParis,andIwillgiveyouuntilthelastmoment.But,'hecontinuedgrimly,'ifyoudonotmeetme,or,meetingme,remainobstinate——Goddosotome,andmorealso,ifyouseethesunrisethrice.'
　　Someimpulse,Iknownotwhat,seeingthatIhadnothoughtofacceptinghistermsormeetinghim,ledmetoaskbriefly,'Where?'
　　'OntheParvisoftheCathedral,'heansweredafteramoment'scalculation.'Atthenorth-eastcorner,halfanhouraftersunset.Itisaquietspot.'
　　Simonutteredastifledexclamation.Andthenforamomenttherewassilenceintheroom,whiletheladbreathedhardandirregularly,andIstoodrootedtothespot,lookingsolongandsostrangelyatthepriestthatFatherAntoinelaidhishandagainonthedoorandglanceduneasilybehindhim.Norwashecontentuntilhehadhiton,ashefancied,thecauseofmystrangeregard.
　　'Ha!'hesaid,histhinlipcurlinginconceitathisastuteness,'Iunderstandyouthinktokillmeto-night?Letmetellyou,thishouseiswatched.Ifyouleaveheretomeetmewithanycompanion——unlessitbeM.d'Agen,whomIcantrust,I
　　shallbewarned,andbegonebeforeyoureachtherendezvous.
　　Andgone,mindyou,'headded,withagrimsmile,'tosignyourdeath-warrant.'
　　Hewentoutwiththat,closingthedoorbehindhim;andweheardhisstepgosoftlydownthestaircase.IgazedatSimon,andheatme,withalltheastonishmentandawewhichitwasnaturalweshouldfeelinpresenceofsoremarkableacoincidence.
　　Forbyamarvelthepriesthadnamedthesamespotandthesametimeasthesenderofthevelvetknot!
　　'Hewillgo,'Simonsaid,hisfaceflushedandhisvoicetrembling,'andtheywillgo.'
　　'Andinthedarktheywillnotknowhim,'Imuttered.'Heisaboutmyheight.Theywilltakehimforme!'
　　'Andkillhim!'Simoncriedhysterically.'Theywillkillhim!
　　Hegoestohisdeath,monsieur.ItisthefingerofGod.'
　　CHAPTERXX.
　　THEKING'SFACE.
　　ItseemedsonecessarytobringhomethecrimetoBruhlshouldthepriestreallyperishinthetraplaidforme,thatIcameneartofallingintooneofthosemistakestowhichmenofactionareprone.FormyfirstimpulsewastofollowthepriesttotheParvis,closelyenough,ifpossible,todetecttheassassinsintheact,andwithsufficientforce,ifIcouldmusterit,toarrestthem.ThecreditofdissuadingmefromthiscourselieswithSimon,whopointedoutitsdangersinsoconvincingamannerthatIwasbroughtwithlittledifficultytorelinquishit.
　　Instead,actingonhisadvice,IsenthimtoM.d'Agen'slodging,tobegthatyounggentlemantocalluponmebeforeevening.
　　Aftersearchingthelodgingandotherplacesinvain,SimonfoundM.d'Ageninthetennis-courtattheCastle,and,inventingacraftyexcuse,broughthimtomylodgingafullhourbeforethetime.