“Then all I have to say is, he may go whistle for his news.”

Now, had I but thought of it, here was an easy road out of a bad business.  If Martin would not tell the hour of rendezvous, Lucas was saved, Monsieur’s interests not endangered, yet at the same time I was not forsworn.  But touch pitch and be defiled.  You cannot go hand and glove with villains and remain an honest man.  I returned directly: 

“As you choose.  But M. Gervais carries a long sword.”

He started at that and made no instant reply, seeming to be balancing considerations.  Then he gave his decision.

“I will tell you.  But your M. Gervais is wrong if he thinks I can be slighted and robbed of my dues.  I know enough to make trouble for him, and I know where to take my knowledge.  He will not find it easy to shut my mouth afterward, except with good broad gold pieces.”

“Enfin, are you telling me the hour?” I said impatiently.  I was ill at ease; my only wish was to get the errand done and be gone.

He laid a hand on my shoulder and made me bend to him, and even then spoke so low I could scarce catch the words.

“They have fixed positively on to-night.  They will leave by this door and take the route I described last night to M. Gervais.  They will start as soon as the streets are quiet, sometime between ten and eleven.  They must allow an hour to reach the gate, and the man goes off at twelve.  In all likelihood they will not set out before a quarter of eleven; M. le Duc does not care to be recognized.”

So they planned to kill Lucas at Monsieur’s side?  Yeux-gris had not dared to tell me that.  But he had looked me straight in the face and sworn on the cross no harm was meant to M. le Duc.  Natheless, the thing looked ugly.  My heart leaped up at the next words: 

“Also Vigo will go.”

“Vigo!”

“Not so loud!  You will have the guard on us!  Yes, he is to go.  At first Monsieur did not tell even him, he desired to keep this visit to the king so secret.  But this morning he took Vigo into his confidence, and nothing would serve the man but to go.  He watches over Monsieur like a hen over a chick.”

“Then it will be three to three,” I said.  I thought of Gervais, Yeux-gris, and Pontou, for of course I would take no part in it.

“Three to two; Lucas will not fight.”

Lucas must be a poltroon, indeed!

“But Vigo and Monsieur—­” I began.

“Aye, they are quick enough with their swords.  Your side must be quicker, that’s all.  If you are sudden enough you can easily kill the duke before he can draw.”

Talk of words like thunderbolts!  All the thunder of heaven could not have whelmed me like those words.  Yeux-gris and his oaths!  It was the duke, after all!

I could not speak.  I looked I know not how.  But it was dusky in the arch.

“It sounds simple,” he went on.  “But, three of you as you are, you will have trouble with Vigo.  That is all.  I have told you all.  I must get back before I am missed.  Good luck to the enterprise.”