“Diable!” cried the deputies, looking at each other.

“I think this is a question for grave consideration, gentlemen,” said the duke.  “I will think it over, and endeavor to find the means of overcoming the difficulty; your interests, before our own, has ever been our maxim.”

The deputies gave a murmur of approbation.

“Now, gentlemen, permit a man who has traveled twenty-four leagues on horseback in forty-eight hours to seek a little sleep.”

“We humbly take our leave, monseigneur,” said Brigard; “what day shall you fix for our next meeting?”

“As soon as possible, gentlemen; to-morrow, or the day after.  Au revoir.”

No sooner had he disappeared than a door opened, and a woman rushed in.

“The duchesse!” they cried.

“Yes, gentlemen; who comes to save you from your embarrassments.  What the Hebrews could not do, Judith did; hope, then, gentlemen, for I also have my plan;” and she disappeared through the same door as her brother.

“Tudieu!” cried Bussy Leclerc; “I believe that is the man of the family.”

“Oh!” murmured Nicholas Poulain, “I wish I were out of all this.”

CHAPTER XXXII.

Brother Borromee.

It was about ten o’clock in the evening when the deputies returned home.  Nicholas Poulain remained behind the others, reflecting on the perplexing situation in which he found himself, and considering whether he should report all that he had heard to M. d’Epernon, when, in the middle of the Rue de la Pierre-au-Real, he ran right against a Jacobin monk.  They both began to swear, but, looking up, recognized each other.

“Brother Borromee!” cried Poulain.

“Nicholas Poulain!” exclaimed the monk.

“How are you?” asked Nicholas cautiously.  “Where in the world were you running to in such a hurry at this time of night?  Is the priory on fire?”

“No; I was going to the Duchesse de Montpensier’s hotel, to speak to M. de Mayneville.”

“And what for?”

“Oh! it is very simple,” said Borromee, seeking for a specious answer; “the reverend prior was solicited by the duchesse to become her confessor; he accepted at the time, but since then he has had scruples, and has sent me to tell her not to rely upon him.”

“Very good; but you are going away from the Hotel Guise.”

“Exactly so; for I hear she is at the Hotel St. Denis, with her brother.”

“Quite true; but why do you deceive me?  It is not the treasurer who is sent with these sort of messages.”

“But to a princess!  Now do not detain me, or I shall miss her.”

“She will return, you might have waited for her.”

“True; but I shall not be sorry to see M. le Duc also.”

“Oh! that is more like the truth, so go on.  There is something new going on,” thought Nicholas; “but why should I try to discover what it is?”