’I see that you still bear me some grudge for what passed between us the other day,’ said he, ’but really, my dear Louis, you have no occasion to do so.  It was your own good which I had chiefly at heart.  I am neither a young nor a strong man, Louis, and my profession, as you have seen, is a dangerous one.  There is my child, and there is my estate.  Who takes one, takes both.  Sibylle is a charming girl, and you must not allow yourself to be prejudiced against her by any ill temper which she may have shown towards me.  I will confess that she had some reason to be annoyed at the turn which things had taken.  But I hope to hear that you have now thought better upon this matter.’

’I have never thought about it at all, and I beg that you will not discuss it,’ said I curtly.

He stood in deep thought for a few moments, and then he raised his evil face and his cruel grey eyes to mine.

‘Well, well, that is settled then,’ said he.  ’But you cannot bear me a grudge for having wished you to be my successor.  Be reasonable, Louis.  You must acknowledge that you would now be six feet deep in the salt-marsh with your neck broken if I had not stood your friend, at some risk to myself.  Is that not true?’

‘You had your own motive for that,’ said I.

’Very likely.  But none the less I saved you.  Why should you bear me ill will?  It is no fault of mine if I hold your estate.’

‘It is not on account of that.’

‘Why is it then?’

I could have explained that it was because he had betrayed his comrades, because his daughter hated him, because he had ill-used his wife, because my father regarded him as the source of all his troubles—­but the salon of the Empress was no place for a family quarrel, so I merely shrugged my shoulders, and was silent.

‘Well, I am very sorry,’ said he, ’for I had the best of intentions towards you.  I could have advanced you, for there are few men in France who exercise more influence.  But I have one request to make to you.’

‘What is that, sir?’

’I have a number of personal articles, belonging to your father—­his sword, his seals, a deskful of letters, some silver plate—­such things in short as you would wish to keep in memory of him.  I should be glad if you will come to Grosbois—­if it is only for one night—­and look over these things, choosing what you wish to take away.  My conscience will then be clear about them.’

I promised readily that I would do so.

‘And when would you come?’ he asked eagerly.  Something in the tone of his voice aroused my suspicions, and glancing at him I saw exultation in his eyes.  I remembered the warning of Sibylle.

’I cannot come until I have learned what my duties with the Emperor are to be.  When that is settled I shall come.’

’Very good.  Next week perhaps, or the week afterwards.  I shall expect you eagerly, Louis.  I rely upon your promise, for a Laval was never known to break one.’  With another unanswered squeeze of my hand, he slipped off among the crowd, which was growing denser every instant in the salon.