Desmond told the story fully.  He was interrupted once by the king.

“How was it that Monsieur de la Vallee’s people were at Roanne?”

Desmond then related the fears that he and Philip had entertained, lest the vicomte should make another attempt to carry off Mademoiselle Pointdexter, and how, without the baron’s knowledge, Philip had sent off a messenger to his intendant for a body of his men to meet them on the way; how the messenger had been intercepted and desperately wounded, and how, in consequence, instead of their being met by the party at Nevers, or north of that town, they had only reached Roanne after the attack had been made on the travellers, near Moulins.

The king asked no more questions, until Desmond finished his story.

“You did well, sir,” he then said; “and the conduct of the Vicomte de Tulle was outrageous, and we should have visited him with our heaviest displeasure, had he not already received his deserts.  It is intolerable that a noble gentleman, with his daughter, cannot travel along the highroads of our kingdom without being thus assaulted.  It was the more scandalous when the vicomte was banished from our court for a similar attempt.  The fact that he had enjoyed our favour would in no degree have mitigated—­indeed it would have increased—­our anger at his conduct, since it would have seemed as if he had relied upon it for immunity for his action.  Surely, such a belief would have been an erroneous one.  The law must be observed, and the higher placed a man is, the more is he bound to set an example of obedience to it.

“We thank you, sir, for having thwarted so daring and villainous a scheme.  We have not yet sent an answer to the Baron de Pointdexter, because we wished your report of the matter before doing so.  We shall now cause him to be informed of our indignation at the plot against his person and that of his daughter, and our satisfaction that they have escaped from it.

“You have begun your career well, indeed, young sir.  Your regiment is about to start for the frontier.  We shall direct your colonel to report to us, from time to time, as to your conduct, and shall see that your promotion is in accordance with your actions, and shall request him to offer you any opportunity that may occur for distinguishing yourself.”

Desmond rode back to Paris well satisfied with the result of the interview.  He had not been slow in noticing that, although the king’s approval of his actions had been warmly expressed in words, there was a certain coldness in the tone in which they were spoken, which showed that, although the king’s sense of justice constrained him to praise, he was at heart sore at the death of one who had been a favoured companion in his sports and amusements.

On his return, he found his two friends waiting for him, at his quarters.  They gave him a hearty greeting.

“You are a perfect paladin, Kennedy,” O’Neil said; “and, though we are all proud of you, we cannot help feeling a little envious that such adventures have all fallen to the lot of our junior ensign.  It is evident that, if you were not born with a silver spoon in your mouth, fortune determined to make up in other ways, by giving you such chances as do not fall to the lot of anyone else.”