'Then now is the time to return it,'he answered.briskly,and as if that settled the matter.
I could not refrain from laughing.'Nay,but I have still an excuse,'I said.'I am barely recovered from an illness,and am weak.Even so,I should be loth to decline a combat with some;but a better man than I may give the wall to M.de Crillon and suffer no disgrace.'
'Oh,if you put it that way--enough said,'he answered in a tone of disappointment.'And,to be sure,the light is almost gone.
That is a comfort.But you will not refuse to drink a cup of wine with me?Your voice I remember,though I cannot say who you are or what service I did you.For the future,however,count on me.I love a man who is brave as well as modest,and know no better friend than a stout swordsman.'
I was answering him in fitting terms--while the fickle crowd,which a few minutes earlier had been ready to tear me,viewed us from a distance with respectful homage--when the masked gentleman who had before been in his company drew near and saluted me with much stateliness.
'I congratulate you,sir,'he said,in the easy tone of a great man condescending.'You use the sword as few use it,and fight with your head as well as your hands.Should you need a friend or employment,you will honour me by remembering that you are known to the Vicomte de Turenne.'
I bowed low to hide the start which the mention of his name caused me.For had I tried,ay,and possessed to aid me all the wit of M.de Brantome,I could have imagined nothing more fantastic than this meeting;or more entertaining than that I,masked,should talk with the Vicomte de Turenne masked,and hear in place of reproaches and threats of vengeance a civil offer of protection.Scarcely knowing whether I should laugh or tremble,or which should occupy me more,the diverting thing that had happened or the peril we had barely escaped,I made shift to answer him,craving his indulgence if I still preserved my incognito.Even while I spoke a fresh fear assailed me:lest M.
de Crillon,recognising my voice or figure,should cry my name on the spot,and explode in a moment the mine on which we stood.
This rendered me extremely impatient to be gone.But M.le Vicomte had still something to say,and I could not withdraw myself without rudeness.
'You are travelling north like everyone else?'he said,gazing at me curiously.'May I ask whether you are for Meudon,where the King of Navarre lies,or for the Court at St.Cloud?'
I muttered,moving restlessly under his keen eyes,that I was for Meudon.
'Then,if you care to travel with a larger company,'he rejoined,bowing with negligent courtesy,'pray command me.I am for Meudon also,and shall leave here three hours before noon.'
Fortunately he took my assent to his gracious invitation for granted,and turned away before I had well begun to thank him.
From Crillon I found it more difficult to escape.He appeared to have conceived a great fancy for me,and felt also,I imagine,some curiosity as to my identity.But I did even this at last,and,evading the obsequious offers which were made me on all sides,escaped to the stables,where I sought out the Cid's stall,and lying down in the straw beside him,began to review the past,and plan the future.Under cover of the darkness sleep soon came to me;my last waking thoughts being divided between thankfulness for my escape and a steady purpose to reach Meudon before the Vicomte,so that I might make good my tale in his absence.For that seemed to be my only chance of evading the dangers I had chosen to encounter.
