‘Then,’ said the Ambassador, ’you may hold it as certain that those parchments give you some advantage which he hears, since he is willing to purchase it at so heavy a price.  Otherwise he himself would be the natural heir of those lands.’

‘After my child,’ said Berenger, hastily.

’Were you on your guard against mentioning your trust in your child’s life?’ said Sir Francis.

The long scar turned deeper purple than ever.  ’Only so far as that I said there still be rights I had no power to resign,’ said Berenger.  ’And then he began to prove to me—–­what I had no mind to hear’ (and his voice trembled) ‘—–­all that I know but too well.’

‘Hum! you must not be left alone again to cope with him,’ said Walsingham.  ’Did he make any question of the validity of your marriage?’

’No, sir, it was never touched on.  I would not let him take her name into his lips.’

Walsingham considered for some minutes, and then said, ’It is clear, then, that he believes that the marriage can be sufficiently established to enable you to disturb him in his possession of some part, at least, of the Angevin inheritance, or he would not endeavour to purchase your renunciation of it by the hand of a daughter so richly endowed.’

’I would willingly renounce it if that were all!  I never sought it; only I cannot give up her child’s rights.’

‘And that you almost declared,’ proceeded Walsingham; ’so that the Chevalier has by his negotiation gathered from you that you have not given up hope that the infant lives.  Do your men know where you believe she is?’

‘My Englishmen know it, of course,’ said Berenger; ’but there is no fear of them.  The Chevalier speaks no English, and they scarcely any French; and, besides, I believe they deem him equally my butcher with his son.  The other fellow I only picked up after I was on my way to Paris, and I doubt his knowing my purpose.’

‘The Chevalier must have had speech with him, though,’ said Philip; ’for it was he who brought word that the old rogue wished to speak with you.’

’It would be well to be quit yourself of the fellow ere leaving Paris,’ said Walsingham.

‘Then, sir,’ said Berenger, with an anxious voice, ’do you indeed think I have betrayed aught that can peril the poor little one?’

Sir Francis smiled.  ’We do not set lads of your age to cope with old foxes,’ he answered; ’and it seems to me that you used far discretion in the encounter.  The mere belief that the child lives does not show him where she may be.  In effect, it would seem likely to most that the babe would be nursed in some cottage, and thus not be in the city of La Sablerie at all.  He might, mayhap, thus be put on a false scent.’

‘Oh no,’ exclaimed Berenger, startled; ’that might bring the death of some other person’s child on my soul.’

‘That shall be guarded against,’ said Sir Francis.  ’In the meantime, my fair youth, keep your matters as silent as may be —–­do not admit the Chevalier again in my absence; and, as to this man Guibert, I will confer with my steward whether he knows too much, and whether it be safer to keep of dismiss him!’