in which you have so greatly distinguished yourself.  Truly, my friendship for you is genuine, and it cuts me to the heart that, although I could uphold you against the most powerful nobles in open enmity, I can do naught to save you from assassination.  I trust some day that I may see you again, but, should it not be so, remember that I shall always feel myself your debtor; and should you have friends for whom you may ask my protection be sure that I will for your sake do all in my power for them.”

There was no doubting the real emotion with which Mazarin spoke.

“There is one thing that I forgot,” the latter said; “here is a pass for you to leave the gates at once.  You had better go out by the north, so that they may think that you have ridden to Calais, and then take a wide detour and ride for Nantes.”

Hector returned to the hotel.

“We must mount at once,” he said to the troopers; “my enemies have failed twice, but they might not fail the third time, and by tomorrow morning it is certain that the hotel will be watched.  I have a pass to issue out through the gate at once.”

While he had been away the troopers had bandaged each other’s wounds, and had packed their valises, for they thought it probable after what had happened that their master would be obliged to fly.

As the horses were being saddled and brought out Hector saw the innkeeper and paid him his bill.

“Monsieur,” he said, “I am going away on business of the cardinal’s, and he desires that none shall know that I have left; therefore I pray you keep the matter secret as long as you can.  It may be reasonably supposed that after the fray in which we have just been engaged, we might well keep our beds for a day or two.”

Going out in the courtyard, he gave a couple of crowns to the hostler.

“You are like to be asked tomorrow if we are still here,” he said.  “Give such answers as to lead them to believe that our horses are still in the stalls.”

They mounted and rode rapidly through the streets to the northern gate, which was immediately, upon Hector’s handing the guard the cardinal’s pass, opened to them.  To the surprise of the men, he turned off after riding a few miles.

“Are you not going to make for Calais, master?”

“No, I am bound for Poitou.  We will cross the Seine by the bridge of boats at Nantes, ride down through Dreux and Le Mans.  There we will separate.  I shall follow the Sarthe, strike the Loire at Angers, and then go on to Nantes.  You will cross the Loire at Tours, and then make for la Villar.  I shall take you, Macpherson and Hunter, with me.  Paolo will ride with the other two, and will be the bearer of letters from me.”

Daylight was breaking when they crossed the bridge of boats.  Hector halted a mile from the river, keeping Paolo with him, and telling the others to pass at intervals of a quarter of an hour apart.