Paolo uttered an exclamation of dismay.

“It cannot be helped now,” Hector went on, “but there will be no living in Paris or even in France after this!”

Mazarin had not retired to bed when they reached his hotel.

“What now, monsieur?” he asked.

“We have had our second battle, your eminence, and it has been a serious one.  We were attacked by five-and-twenty ruffians; we slew some ten of them.  Then their leader, who had been keeping in the rear shouting to them, seeing that his men were not likely to get the best of us, pushed through them and himself attacked me.  I wounded him somewhat seriously, at least the thrust was just below the shoulder; and when I tell you that it was Beaufort himself you will see that the matter is serious indeed.”

“It could not be worse,” the cardinal said gravely; “you will have the whole of the adherents of the house of Vendome banded against you, and even your bravery could not long triumph over such odds.  France is no longer a place for you.  Neither the queen’s protection nor mine would avail you aught.”

He took two or three turns up the room.

“In the first place, Monsieur Campbell, I will buy your fief back from you; there are plenty who would gladly purchase it, or I can bestow it, as it was bestowed upon you, upon someone who has served the crown well.  I will send the price to the banker who already holds money of yours in his keeping.  I should advise you to mount tonight and ride for the seacoast.  Tomorrow would be too late.”

He opened a cabinet.

“Here are a thousand crowns for your present expenses.  Which road will you take?  I should advise you not to go to Calais; that is the line on which, as soon as it is known that you have gone, they will pursue you, and even did they not overtake you on the way they might reach Calais before you could obtain a ship for England, for at present there is but little trade between the countries, and that not openly.”

“I will make for Nantes, your eminence; there I can be joined by friends from my chateau.”

A slight smile passed over the cardinal’s face.

“’Tis no time for jesting,” he said; “but in truth I had intended to find a rich heiress for you.  But when I heard that two ladies were staying at the castle I laid the project aside; and ’tis as well that I did so, for, were you married to a princess, your life would not be safe in France.  Farewell, Monsieur Campbell, I have not so many friends that I can afford to lose so true and stout a one, especially one upon whom misfortunes have come through his good services to myself.  I will send a messenger to the governor of Nantes with orders that he shall in every way forward your wishes as to your departure, as it is with my consent and approval that you are sailing for England.  Your devotion has brought you into the gravest peril, and now it forces you to relinquish your profession,