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with black； white； and greenthe livery as I learned afterwards of
Monsieur the King's brother； the Duke of Anjou； afterwards Henry the
Third； then a close friend of the Duke of Guise； and later his murderer。
The captain spoke with a foreign accent； and his complexion was dark to
swarthiness。 His eyes sparkled and flashed like black beads。 It was
easy to see that he was an Italian。
〃A gallant young cock enough；〃 the soldier who had whistled
answered； 〃and not quite of the breed we expected。〃 He held his lanthorn
towards me and pointed to the white badge on my sleeve。 〃It strikes me we
have caught a crow instead of a pigeon！〃
〃How comes this？〃 the Italian asked harshly； addressing me。 〃Who
are you？ And why do you wish to cross the river at this time of night；
young sir？〃
I acted on the inspiration of the moment。 〃Play the man boldly！〃
Madame had said。 I would： and I did with a vengeance。 I sprang
forward and seizing the captain by the clasp of his cloak； shook him
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violently； and flung him off with all my force； so that he reeled。 〃Dog！〃
I exclaimed； advancing； as if I would seize him again。 〃Learn how to
speak to your betters！ Am I to be stopped by such sweepings as you？
Hark ye； I am on the King's service！〃
He fairly spluttered with rage。 〃More like the devil's！〃 he
exclaimed； pronouncing his words abominably； and fumbling vainly for
his weapon。 〃King's service or no service you do not insult Andrea
Pallavicini！〃
I could only vindicate my daring by greater daring； and I saw this even
as； death staring me in the face； my heart seemed to stop。 The man had
his mouth open and his hand raised to give an order which would certainly
have sent Anne de Caylus from the world； when I cried passionatelyit
was my last chance； and I never wished to live more strongly than at that
momentI cried passionately； 〃Andrea Pallavicini； if such be your name；
look at that！ Look at that！〃 I repeated； shaking my open hand with the
ring on it before his face； 〃and then hinder me if you dare！ To… morrow if
you have quarterings enough； I will see to your quarrel！ Now send me
on my way； or your fate be on your own head！ Disobeyay； do but
hesitateand I will call on these very men of yours to cut you down！〃
It was a bold throw； for I staked all on a talisman of which I did not
know the value！ To me it was the turn of a die； for I had had no leisure to
look at the ring； and knew no more than a babe whose it was。 But the
venture was as happy as desperate。
Andrea Pallavicini's expressionno pleasant one at the best of times
changed on the instant。 His face fell as he seized my hand； and peered at
the ring long and intently。 Then he cast a quick glance of suspicion at his
men； of hatred at me。 But I cared nothing for his glance； or his hatred。
I saw already that he had made up his mind to obey the charm： and that
for me was everything。 〃If you had shown that to me a little earlier；
young sir； it would； maybe； have been better for both of us；〃 he said； a
surly menace in his voice。 And cursing his men for their stupidity he
ordered two of them to unmoor a boat。
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Apparently the craft had been secured with more care than skill； for to
loosen it seemed to be a work of time。 Meanwhile I stood waiting in the
midst of the group； anxious and yet exultant； an object of curiosity； and yet
curious myself。 I heard the guards whisper together； and caught such
phrases as 〃It is the Duc d'Aumale。〃
〃No； it is not D'Aumale。 It is nothing like him。〃
〃Well； he has the Duke's ring； fool！〃
〃The Duke's？〃
〃Ay。〃
〃Then it is all right； God bless him！〃 This last was uttered with
extreme fervour。
I was conscious too of being the object of many respectful glances；
and had just bidden the men on the steps below me to be quick； when I
discovered with alarm three figures moving across the open space towards
us； and coming apparently from the same point from which Pallavicini and
his men had emerged。
In a moment I foresaw danger。 〃Now be quick there！〃 I cried again。
But scarcely had I spoken before I saw that it was impossible to get afloat
before these others came up； and I prepared to stand my ground resolutely。
The first words； however； with which Pallavicini saluted the new…
comers scattered my fears。 〃Well； what the foul fiend do you want？〃
he exclaimed rudely； and he rapped out half…a…dozen CORPOS before they
could answer him。 〃What have you brought him here for； when I left him
in the guard…house？ Imbeciles！〃
〃Captain Pallavicini；〃 interposed the midmost of the three； speaking
with patiencehe was a man of about thirty； dressed with some richness；
though his clothes were now disordered as though by a struggle〃I have
induced these good men to bring me down〃
〃Then；〃 cried the captain； brutally interrupting him； 〃you have lost
your labour； Monsieur。〃
〃You do not know me；〃 replied the prisoner with sternnessa prisoner
he seemed to be。 〃You do not understand that I am a friend of the Prince
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of Conde； and that〃
He would have said more； but the Italian again cut him short。 〃A fig
for the Prince of Conde！〃 he cried； 〃I understand my duty。 You may as
well take things easily。 You cannot cross； and you cannot go home； and
you cannot have any explanation； except that it is the King's will！
Explanation？〃 he grumbled； in a lower tone； 〃you will get it soon
enough； I warrant！ Before you want it！〃
〃But there is a boat going to cross；〃 said the other； controlling his
temper by an effort and speaking with dignity。 〃