out his Majesty's purse. So long as there was a single stiver uncollected we did escort duty for him faithfully, and I confess that, as I watched his money-bags filling, I was strongly tempted to join the king's faction. But the infernal confusion that reigned everywhere, together with a fit of spleen against Monsieur de Mazarin, and the complaints that we heard on all sides against Monsieur d'Épernon, brought us to our senses. We concluded that there was much to be said in favor of the justice of the princes' cause, and we embraced it with ardor; the collector completed his round of visits at the little house which stands by itself yonder among the poplars and sycamores."
"Nanon's house!" muttered the other; "yes, I see it."
"We watched until he came out, we followed him as we had been doing for five days, we crossed the Dordogne with him just below Saint-Michel, and when we were in midstream I told him of our conversion politically, and requested him, with all the courtesy of which I am capable, to turn over to us the cash in his possession. Would you believe, monsieur, that he refused? Thereupon, my comrades searched him, and as he was shrieking in a way to cause scandal, my lieutenant, a resourceful rascal, – you see him yonder, in a red cloak, holding my horse, – reflected that the water, by intercepting the air-currents, interfered with the continuity of sound; that is an axiom in physics which I, as a physician, understood and applauded. The author of the suggestion thereupon bent the recalcitrant tax-collector's head over toward the river, and held it a foot – no more – under water. As a matter of fact he ceased to shout, or, to put it more accurately, we ceased to hear him. We were able, therefore, to seize in the name of the princes all the money in his possession, and the correspondence which had been intrusted to him. I gave the money to my soldiers, who, as you justly observed, need to be newly equipped, and I kept the papers, this one among others: it seems that the worthy collector acted as Mercury for Mademoiselle de Lartigues."
"Indeed," muttered the old gentleman, "he was a creature of Nanon's if I mistake not. What became of the wretch?"
"Ah! you will see whether we did well to dip the wretch, as you call him, in the river. Why, except for that precaution he would have aroused the whole country. Fancy, when we took him out of the water, although he had been there hardly quarter of an hour, he was dead with rage!"
"You plunged him in again, no doubt?"
"As you say."
"But if the messenger was drowned – "
"I didn't say that he was drowned."
"Let us not haggle over words; if the messenger is dead – "
"Oh! as to that, he's dead enough."
"Monsieur de Canolles will not have received the letter, of course, and consequently will not keep the appointment."
"Oh! one moment; I make war on powers, not on private individuals. Monsieur de Canolles received a duplicate of the letter making the appointment; but as I considered that the autograph manuscript was of some value, I retained it."
"What will he think when he fails to recognize the writing?"
"That the person who hungers for a sight of him has employed another hand, as a measure of precaution."
The stranger eyed Cauvignac in evident admiration of such unbounded impudence combined with such perfect self-possession. He was determined, if possible, to find some means of frightening the reckless swashbuckler.
"What about the government," he said, "and the investigations that may be set on foot? Do you never think of that?"
"Investigations?" rejoined the younger man, with a laugh. "Oh! Monsieur d'Épernon has many other things to do besides investigate; and then, did I not tell you that I did what I did for the purpose of obtaining his favor? He would be ungrateful indeed if he didn't bestow it on me."
"I don't altogether understand," said the other, satirically, "how it ever occurred to you, who have, by your own admission, taken up the cause of the princes, to do Monsieur d'Épernon a service."
"And yet it's the simplest thing in the world: an inspection of the papers found upon the collector convinced me of the purity of the king's intentions; his Majesty is entirely justified in my eyes, and Monsieur le Duc d'Épernon is in the right a thousand times over as against his subordinates. That, therefore, is the just cause, and thereupon I embraced the just cause."
"Here's a scoundrel whom I will have hanged if he ever falls into my hands!" growled the old gentleman, pulling savagely at the ends of his bristly moustache.
"I beg your pardon?" said Cauvignac, winking under his mask.
"I said nothing. Let me ask you a question; what do you propose to do with the signature in blank which you demand?"
"Deuce take me if I've made up my mind! I asked for a signature in blank, because it is the most convenient thing, the easiest to carry, and the most elastic. It is probable that I shall keep it for some great emergency; but it is possible that I may throw it away on the first whim that comes to my mind; perhaps I may present it to you in person before the end of the week, perhaps it will not come back to you for three or four months, and then with a dozen or more endorsers, like a piece of commercial paper; but never fear, I shall not use it for any purpose for which you and I need blush. Noble blood counts for something, after all."
"You are of noble blood?"
"Yes, monsieur, the very noblest."
"In that case I will have him broken on the wheel," muttered the unknown; "that's the service his blank signature will do him!"
"Have you decided to give me the signature in blank?" asked Cauvignac.
"I must," was the reply.
"I don't force you to do it; let us understand each other. What I propose is an exchange; keep your paper if you choose, and I will keep mine."
"The letter?"
"The signature?"
And he held out the letter with one hand, while he cocked a pistol with the other.
"Don't disturb the repose of your pistol," said the stranger, throwing open his cloak; "for I have pistols, too, and they are all loaded. Fair play on both sides; here's your signature."
The exchange of documents was effected without further parley, and each of the parties examined that which was handed to him, carefully and in silence.
"Now, monsieur," said Cauvignac, "in which direction do you go?"
"I must cross to the right bank."
"And I to the left."
"How shall we arrange it? My men are where you propose to go, and yours where I propose to go."
"Why, nothing could be simpler; send my men over to me in your boat, and I will send yours over in mine."
"You have an inventive mind, and one that works very quickly."
"I was born to command an army."
"And so you do."
"Ah! true, I had forgotten," said the young man.
The stranger motioned to the ferry-man to cast off his boat, and pull to the opposite shore in the direction of the clump of woods which reached to the road.
The young man, who was perhaps expecting
