And Berenger did not feel it needful to yield up that still better possession, stored within his heart, that la petite and her pearls were safe together.  It was less unendurable to produce the leather case from a secret pocket within his doublet, since, unwilling as he was that any eye should scan the letters it contained, there was nothing in them that could give any clue towards tracing her.  Nothing had been written or received since his interview with the children at Lucon.  There was, indeed, Eustacie’s letter to his mother, a few received at Paris from Lord Walwyn, reluctantly consenting to his journey in quest of his child, his English passport, the unfortunate letters to La Noue; and what evidently startled the Chevalier more than all the rest, the copy of the certificate of the ratification of the marriage; but his consternation was so arranged as to appear to be all on behalf of his young kinsman.  ‘This is serious!’ he said, striking his forehead; ’you will be accused of forging the late King’s name.

‘This is but a copy,’ said Berenger, pointing to the heading; ’the original has been sent with our Ambassador’s dispatches to England.

‘It is a pity,’ said the Chevalier, looking thoroughly vexed, ’that you should have brought fresh difficulties on yourself for a mere piece of waste paper to be affected by the validity of your marriage.  Dear cousin,’—­he glanced at the officer and lowered his voice,—­’let me tear this paper; it would only do you harm, and the Papal decree annuls it.

‘I have given my word,’ said Berenger, ’that all that could do me harm should be delivered up!  Besides,’ he added, ’even had I the feeling for my own honour and that of my wife and child, living or dead, the harm, it seems to me, would be to those who withhold her lands from me.

’Ah, fair nephew! you have fallen among designing persons who have filled your head with absurd claims; but I will not argue the point now, since it becomes a family, not a State matter.  These papers’- -and he took them into his hand—­’must be examined, and to-morrow Captain Delarue will take them to Paris, with any explanation you may desire to offer.  Meantime you and your companions remain my guest, at full liberty, provided you will give me your parole to attempt no escape.

‘No, sir,’ said Berenger, hotly, ’we will not become our own jailers, nor acquiesce in this unjust detention.  I warn you that I am a naturalized Englishman, acknowledged by the Queen as my grandfather’s heir, and the English Ambassador will inform the court what Queen Elizabeth thinks of such dealings with her subjects.

‘Well said,’ exclaimed Philip, and drawing himself up, he added, ’I refuse my parole, and warn you that it is at your peril that you imprison an Englishman.