'If you can bring his men to reason,'he replied testily,'speak your fill to him!'
Stepping to the foot of the upper flight,on which Bruhl retained his position,I saluted him formally.He returned my greeting with a surly,watchful look only,and drawing his cloak more tightly round him affected to gaze down at me with disdain;which ill concealed,however,both the triumph he felt and the hopes of vengeance he entertained.I was especially anxious to learn whether he had tracked his wife hither,or was merely here in pursuance of his general schemes against me,and to this end.Iasked him with as much irony as I could compass to what I was to attribute his presence.'I am afraid I cannot stay to offer you hospitality,'I continued;'but for that you have only your friend M.Villequier to thank!'
'I am greatly obliged to you,'he answered with a devilish smile,'but do not let that affect you.When you are gone I propose to help myself,my friend,to whatever takes my taste.'
'Do you?'I retorted coolly--not that I was unaffected by the threat and the villainous hint which underlay the words,but that,fully expecting them,I was ready with my answer.'We will see about that.'And therewith I raised my fingers to my lips,and,whistling shrilly,cried 'Maignan!Maignan!'in a clear voice.
I had no need to cry the name a third time,for before the Provost-Marshal could do more than start at this unexpected action,the landing above us rang under a heavy tread,and the man I called,descending the stairs swiftly,appeared on a sudden within arm's length of M.de Bruhl;who,turning with an oath,saw him,and involuntarily recoiled.At all times Maignan's hardy and confident bearing was of a kind to impress the strong;but on this occasion there was an added dash of recklessness in his manner which was not without its effect on the spectators.
As he stood there smiling darkly over Bruhl's head,while his hand toyed carelessly with his dagger,and the torch shone ruddily on his burly figure,he was so clearly an antagonist in a thousand that,had I sought through Blois,I might not have found his fellow for strength and SANG-FROID.He let his black eyes rove from one to the other,but took heed of me only,saluting me with effusion and a touch of the Gascon which was in place here,if ever.
I knew how M.de Rosny dealt with him,and followed the pattern as far as I could.'Maignan!'I said curtly,'I have taken a lodging for to-night elsewhere.Then I am gone you will call out your men and watch this door.If anyone tries to force an entrance you will do your duty.'
'You may consider it done,'he replied.
'Even if the person be M.de Bruhl here,'I continued.
'Precisely.'
'You will remain on guard,'I went on,'until to-morrow morning if M.de Bruhl remains here;but whenever he leaves you will take your orders from the persons inside,and follow them implicitly.'
'Your Excellency's mind may be easy,'he answered,handling his dagger.
Dismissing him with a nod,I turned with a smile to M.de Bruhl,and saw that between rage at this unexpected check and chagrin at the insult put upon him,his discomfiture was as complete as Icould wish.As for Fresnoy,if he had seriously intended to dispute our passage,he was no longer in the mood for the attempt.Yet I did not let his master off without one more prick.'That being settled,M.de Bruhl,'I said pleasantly,'Imay bid you good evening.You will doubtless honour me at Chaverny tomorrow.But we will first let Maignan look under the bridge!'
