He was still laughing and talking in his madcap way when a door opened, and my father came towards us.

“Edmond!” he cried, on seeing me, “now this is indeed bright sunshine gleaming through the dark clouds.  Monsieur Bellievre, you are doubly welcome, for your own sake and for what you bring with you!”

The memory of the pleasant evening that followed I treasured for many years.  I sat beside my mother, my hand clasped in hers, telling her the story of my adventures.  Jeanne was full of high spirits, while Felix was simply overflowing with wit and good-humoured drollery.

The only drawback to our enjoyment was the absence of the trusted Jacques, but even that was slight, as he was not seriously wounded, and from the household of the noble Count St. Cyr he was certain to receive every attention.

Nothing was said that evening about the visit of the troops to Le Blanc, but the next morning I had a long talk with my father on the subject.  I told him what I had learned from old Pierre, and also my suspicions concerning Etienne Cordel.

“The advocate is a scheming rogue,” he said, “who bears me no goodwill because I have laughed at his pretensions to be considered our equal.  He is in the pay of Monseigneur, and he has acted as a spy on those of the Religion; but, unless he heard of the affair of the letter, he could do me no harm.”

“He must have heard of it from the stranger with whom we travelled,” I declared.  “Jacques distrusted him from the first, and believed he was one of those who attacked Devine.  Did he recover?”

“Yes; he is in Rochelle, fretting and fuming at having been prevented from fulfilling his mission.  But to return to our own affairs.  Have you considered what this proclamation means?”

“That your life is in danger.”

“A bagatelle, Edmond.  It has been in danger these many years.  There is something far more serious.  As a traitor to the king, my estates are forfeit, and you will grow up to see another man master of the land which by right is yours.  It is a heavy price for you to pay, my boy.”

Now I hold it folly to pretend that this caused me no grief, but I was young and enthusiastic, and sensible enough to know that any sign of sorrow would add to my father’s unhappiness.  So I looked straight into his eyes and said brightly, “Others have paid a heavy price for their faith without murmuring; I am strong enough to do the same.”

He held me in his arms and kissed my cheeks, saying:  “Now God bless and reward you for those brave words, my son,” and never before in all my life had I seen him so deeply moved.

CHAPTER VI

The Unknown Cavalier

My father had already accepted the Admiral’s kind offer, so, after a few days of idleness, I began my new duties, meeting with a genial reception from my future comrades, several of whom were but a little older than myself.