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court as to the king； and I was not slow to mark with an inward
smile the discomposure which appeared very clearly； on the faces of
several； as the crowd in the chamber fell back for me to approach
my master。 I was careful； however； to remember that this might
arise from other causes than guilt。 The king received me with his
wonted affection； and divining at once that I must have something
important to communicate； withdrew with me to the farther end of
the chamber； where we were out of earshot of the court。 I there
related the story to his majesty； keeping back nothing。
He shook his head； saying merely： 〃The fish to escape the frying
pan； grand master； will jump into the fire。 And human nature； save
in the case of you and me； who can trust one another； is very
fishy。〃
I was touched by this gracious compliment； but not convinced。 〃You
have not seen the man； sire；〃 I said； 〃and I have had that
advantage。〃
〃And believe him？〃
〃In part；〃 I answered with caution。 〃So far at least as to be
assured that he thinks to save his skin； which he will only do if
he be telling the truth。 May I beg you； sire；〃 I added hastily；
seeing the direction of his glance； 〃not to look so fixedly at the
Duke of Epernon？ He grows uneasy。〃
〃Conscience makesyou know the rest。〃
〃Nay； sire； with submission；〃 I replied； 〃I will answer for him； if
he be not driven by fear to do something reckless。〃
〃Good！ I take your warranty； Duke of Sully；〃 the king said； with
the easy grace which came so natural to him。 〃But now in this
matter what would you have me do？〃
〃Double your guards； sire； for to…nightthat is all。 I will
answer for the Bastile and the Arsenal； and holding these we hold
Paris。〃
But thereupon I found that the king had come to a decision； which I
felt it to be my duty to combat with all my influence。 He had
conceived the idea of being the one to accompany me to the
rendezvous。 〃I am tired of the dice；〃 he complained； 〃and sick of
tennis； at which I know everybody's strength。 Madame de Verneuil
is at Fontainebleau； the queen is unwell。 Ah； Sully； I would the
old days were back when we had Nerac for our Paris； and knew the
saddle better than the armchair！〃
〃A king must think of his people；〃 I reminded him。
〃The fowl in the pot？ To be sure。 So I willto…morrow；〃 he
replied。 And in the end he would be obeyed。 I took my leave of
him as if for the night； and retired； leaving him at play with the
Duke of Epernon。 But an hour later； toward eight o'clock； his
majesty； who had made an excuse to withdraw to his closet； met me
outside the eastern gate of the Louvre。
He was masked； and attended only by Coquet； his master of the
household。 I too wore a mask and was esquired by Maignan； under
whose orders were four Swisswhom I had chosen because they were
unable to speak Frenchguarding the prisoner Andrew。 I bade
Maignan follow the innkeeper's directions； and we proceeded in two
parties through the streets on the left bank of the river； past the
Chatelet and Bastile； until we reached an obscure street near the
water； so narrow that the decrepit wooden houses shut out well…nigh
all view of the sky。 Here the prisoner halted and called upon me
to fulfill the terms of my agreement。 I bade Maignan therefore to
keep with the Swiss at a distance of fifty paces； but to come up
should I whistle or otherwise give the alarm； and myself with the
king and Andrew proceeded onward in the deep shadow of the houses。
I kept my hand on my pistol； which I had previously shown to the
prisoner； intimating that on the first sign of treachery I should
blow out his brains。 However； despite precaution； I felt
uncomfortable to the last degree。 I blamed myself severely for
allowing the king to expose himself and the country to this
unnecessary danger； while the meanness of the locality； the fetid
air； the darkness of the night； which was wet and tempestuous； and
the uncertainty of the event lowered my spirits； and made every
splash in the kennel and stumble on the reeking； slippery
pavementsmatters over which the king grew merryseem no light
troubles to me。
Arriving at a house； which； if we might judge in the darkness；
seemed to be of rather greater pretensions than its fellows； our
guide stopped； and whispered to us to mount some steps to a raised
wooden gallery； which intervened between the lane and the doorway。
On this； besides the door； a couple of unglazed windows looked out。
The shutter of one was ajar； and showed us a large； bare room；
lighted by a couple of rushlights。 Directing us to place ourselves
close to this shutter； the innkeeper knocked at the door in a
peculiar fashion； and almost immediately entered； going at once
into the lighted room。 Peering cautiously through the window we
were surprised to find that the only person within； save the
newcomer； was a young woman； who； crouching over a smoldering fire；
was crooning a lullaby while she attended to a large black pot。
〃Good evening； mistress！〃 said the innkeeper； advancing to the fire
with a fair show of nonchalance。
〃Good evening； Master Andrew；〃 the girl replied； looking up and
nodding； but showing no sign of surprise at his appearance。
〃Martin is away； but he may return at any moment。〃
〃Is he still of the same mind？〃
〃Quite。〃
〃And what of Sully？ Is he to die then？〃 he asked。
〃They have decided he must；〃 the girl answered gloomily。 It may be
believed that I listened with all my ears； while the king by a
nudge in my side seemed to rally me on the destiny so coolly
arranged for me。 〃Martin says it is no good killing the other
unless he goes toothey have been so long together。 But it vexes
me sadly； Master Andrew；〃 she added with a sudden break in her
voice。 〃Sadly it vexes me。 I could not sleep last night for
thinking of it； and the risk Martin runs。 And I shall sleep less
when it is done。〃
〃Pooh…pooh！〃 said that rascally innkeeper。 〃Think less about it。
Things will grow worse and worse if they are let live。 The King
has done harm enough already。 And he grows old besides。〃
〃That is true！〃 said the girl。 〃And no doubt the sooner he is put
out of the way the better。 He is changed sadly。 I do not say a
word for him。 Let him die。 It is killing Sully that troubles me
that and the risk Martin runs。〃
At this I took the liberty of gently touching the king。 He
answered by an amused grimace； then by a motion of his hand he
enjoined silence。 We stooped still farther forward so as better to
command the room。 The girl was rocking herself to and fro in
evident distress of mind。 〃If we killed the King；〃 she continued；
〃Martin declares we should be no better off； as long as Sully
lives。 Both or neither； he says。 But I do not know。 I cannot
bear to think of it。 It was a sad day when we brought Epernon
here； Master Andrew； and one I fear we shall rue as long as we
live。〃