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〃M。 de Caylus；〃 she said； and at that stopped。 Naturally I looked at
her； and our eyes met。 Hers brown and beautiful； shining in the light of
the lamp overhead looked into mine。 Her lips were half parted； and one
fair tress of hair had escaped from her hood。 〃M。 de Caylus； will you do
me a favour；〃 she resumed； softly； 〃a favour for which I shall always be
grateful？〃
I sighed。 〃Madame；〃 I said earnestly； for I felt the solemnity of the
occasion； 〃I swear that in ten minutes； if the task I now have in hand be
finished I will devote my life to your service。 For the present〃
〃Well； for the present？ But it is the present I want； Master
Discretion。〃
〃I must see M。 de Pavannes！ I am pledged to it；〃 I ejaculated。
〃To see M。 de Pavannes？〃
〃Yes。〃
I was conscious that she was looking at me with eyes of doubt； almost
of suspicion。
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〃Why？ Why？〃 she asked with evident surprise。 〃You have
restoredand nearly frightened me to death in doing ithis wife to her
home； what more do you want with him； most valiant knight… errant？〃
〃I must see him；〃 I said firmly。 I would have told her all and been
thankful； but the priest was within hearingor barely out of it； and I had
seen too much pass between him and Bezers to be willing to say anything
before him。
〃You must see M。 de Pavannes？〃 she repeated； gazing at me。
〃I must；〃 I replied with decision。
〃Then you shall。 That is exactly what I am going to help you to do；〃
she exclaimed。 〃He is not here。 That is what is the matter。 He went
out at nightfall seeking news of his wife； and crossed the river； the
Coadjutor says； to the Faubourg St。 Germain。 Now it is of the utmost
importance that he should return before morningreturn here。〃
〃But is he not here？〃 I said； finding all my calculations at fault。
〃You are sure of it； Madame？〃
〃Quite sure；〃 she answered rapidly。 〃Your brothers will have by this
time discovered the fact。 Now； M。 de Caylus； Pavannes must be brought
here before morning； not only for his wife's sake though she will be wild
with anxietybut also〃
〃I know；〃 I said； eagerly interrupting her； 〃for his own too！ There is a
danger threatening him。〃
She turned swiftly； as if startled； and I turned； and we looked at the
priest。 I thought we understood one another。 〃There is；〃 she answered
softly； 〃and I would save him from that danger； but he will only be safe； as
I happen to know； here！ Here； you understand！ He must be brought
here before daybreak； M。 de Caylus。 He must！ He must！〃 she
exclaimed； her beautiful features hardening with the earnestness of her
feelings。 〃And the Coadjutor cannot go。 I cannot go。 There is only
one man who can save him； and that is yourself。 There is； above all； not
a moment to be lost。〃
My thoughts were in a whirl。 Even as she spoke she began to walk
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back the way we had come； her hand on my arm； and I； doubtful； and in a
confused way unwilling； went with her。 I did not clearly understand the
position。 I would have wished to go in and confer with Marie and
Croisette； but the juncture had occurred so quickly； and it might be that
time was as valuable as she said； andwell； it was hard for me； a lad； to
refuse her anything when she looked at me with appeal in her eyes。 I did
manage to stammer； 〃But I do not know Paris。 I could not find my way； I
am afraid； and it is night； Madame。〃
She released my arm and stopped。 〃Night！〃 she cried； with a
scornful ring in her voice。 〃Night！ I thought you were a man； not a boy！
You are afraid！〃
〃Afraid；〃 I said hotly； 〃we Cayluses are never afraid。〃
〃Then I can tell you the way； if that be your only difficulty。 We turn
here。 Now； come in with me a moment；〃 she continued； 〃and I will give
you something you will needand your directions。〃
She had stopped at the door of a tall； narrow house； standing between
larger ones in a street which appeared to me to be more airy and important
than any I had yet seen。 As she spoke； she rang the bell once； twice；
thrice。 The silvery tinkle had scarcely died away the third time before
the door opened silently； I saw no one； but she drew me into a narrow hall
or passage。 A taper in an embossed holder was burning on a chest。 She
took it up；and telling me to follow her led the way lightly up the stairs； and
into a room； half…parlour； half…bedroom…such a room as I； had never seen
before。 It was richly hung from ceiling to floor with blue silk； and
lighted by the soft rays of lamps shaded by Venetian globes of delicate
hues。 The scent of cedar wood was in the air； and on the hearth in a
velvet tray were some tiny puppies。 A dainty disorder reigned
everywhere。 On one table a jewel…case stood open； on another lay some
lace garments； two or three masks and a fan。 A gemmed riding…whip and
a silver…hilted poniard hung on the same peg。 And； strangest of all；
huddled away behind the door； I espied a plain； black… sheathed sword；
and a man's gauntlets。
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She did not wait a moment； but went at once to the jewel…case。 She
took from it a gold ringa heavy seal ring。 She held this out to me in the
most matter…of…fact wayscarcely turning； in fact。 〃Put it on your
finger；〃 she said hurriedly。 〃If you are stopped by soldiers； or if they will
not give you a boat to cross the river； say boldly that you are on the king's
service。 Call for the officer and show that ring。 Play the man。 Bid
him stop you at his peril！〃
I hastily muttered my thanks； and she as hastily took something from a
drawer； and tore it into strips。 Before I knew what she was doing she was
on her knees by me； fastening a white band o