“My brother, when you wish it, I will show you the king on the road with only two lackeys.”

“I have heard that a hundred times, and never seen it once.”

“You will see it if you stay here only three days.”

“Another project:  tell me what it is.”

“You will laugh at a woman’s idea.”

At this moment, M. de Mayneville was announced.  “My accomplice,” said she:  “let him enter.”

“One word, monseigneur,” said he to M. de Mayenne as he entered; “they suspect your arrival at the Louvre.”

“How so?”

“I was conversing with the captain of the guards at St. Germain l’Auxerrois, when two Gascons passed—­”

“Do you know them?”

“No; they were quite newly dressed.  ‘Cap de Bious!’ said one, ’you have a magnificent doublet, but it will not render you so much service as your cuirass of yesterday.’  ‘Bah!’ said the other; ’however heavy the sword of M. de Mayenne may be, it will do no more harm to this satin than to my cuirass,’ and then he went on in a series of bravadoes, which showed that they knew you were near.”

“And to whom did these men belong?”

“I do not know; they talked so loudly that some passers-by approached, and asked if you were really coming.  They were about to reply, when a man approached, whom I think was De Loignac, and touched them on the shoulder.  He said some words in a low voice, and they looked submissive, and accompanied him, so that I know no more; but be on your guard.”

“You did not follow them?”

“Yes, but from afar.  They went toward the Louvre, and disappeared behind the Hotel des Meubles.”

“I have a very simple method of reply,” said the duke.

“What?”

“To go and pay my respects to the king to-night.”

“To the king?”

“Certainly; I have come to Paris—­he can have nothing to say against that.”

“The idea is good,” said Mayneville.

“It is imprudent,” said the duchess.

“It is indispensable, sister, if they indeed suspect my arrival.  Besides, it was the advice of Henri to go at once and present to the king the respects of the family; that once done, I am free, and can receive whom I please.”

“The members of the committee, for example, who expect you.”

“I will receive them at the Hotel St. Denis on my return from the Louvre.  You will wait for us, if you please, my sister.”—­“Here?”

“No; at the Hotel St. Denis, where I have left my equipages.  I shall be there in two hours.”

CHAPTER XXVI.

The Louvre.

That same day, about noon, the king came out of his cabinet and called for M. d’Epernon.  The duke, when he came, found the king attentively examining a young monk.

The king took D’Epernon aside, “Look, what an odd-looking monk,” said he.