“I was with you in London, where two royalists who knew me, recognized me?”

“The two De Ferriers.”

“Did a woman named Madame Tank see me?”

Bellenger was startled.

“You were noticed on the ship by a court-lady of Holland; a very clever courtier.  I had trouble in evading her.  She suspected too much, and asked too many questions; and would have you to play with her baby on the deck, though at that time you noticed nothing.”

“But where does the idiot come into my story?”

“Sire, you have been unfortunate, but I have been a victim.  When we landed in New York I went directly and made myself known to the man who was to act as purveyor of your majesty’s pension.  He astonished me by declaring that the dauphin was already there, and had claimed the pension for that year.  The country and the language were unknown to me.  The agent spoke French, it is true, but we hardly understood each other.  I supposed I had nothing to do but present my credentials.  Here was another idiot—­I crave your majesty’s pardon—­”

“Quite right—­at the time, Bellenger.”

—­“drawing the annuity intended for the dauphin.  I inquired into his rights.  The agent showed me papers like my own.  I asked who presented them.  He knew no more of the man than he did of me.  I demanded to face the man.  No such person could be found.  I demanded to see the idiot.  He was shut in a room and fed by a hired keeper.  I sat down and thought much.  Clearly it was not the agent’s affair.  He followed instructions.  Good!  I would follow instructions also.  Months would have been required to ask and receive explanations from the court of Monsieur.  He had assumed the title of Louis XVIII, for the good of the royalist cause, as if there were no prince.  I thought I saw what was expected of me.”

“And what did you see, you unspeakable scoundrel?”

“I saw that there was a dauphin too many, hopelessly idiotic.  But if he was the one to be guarded, I would guard him.”

“Who was that idiot?”

“Some unknown pauper.  No doubt of that.”

“And what did you do with me?”

“A chief of the Iroquois Indians can tell you that.”

“This is a clumsy story, Bellenger.  Try again.”

“Sire—­”

“If you knew so little of the country, how did you find an Iroquois chief?”

“I met him in the woods when he was hunting.  I offered to give you to him, pretending you had the annuity from Europe.  Sire, I do not know why trickery was practiced on me, or who practiced it:  why such pains were taken to mix the clues which led to the dauphin.  But afterwards the same agent had orders to give you two-thirds and me only one-third of the yearly sum.  I thought the court was in straits;—­when both Russia and Spain supported it!  I was nothing but a court painter.  But when you went to France, I blocked your way with all the ingenuity I could bring.”