Rafael Sabatini

“ I thought, “brawling at this hour, and in the very streets of Paris, in spite of the edicts?”
Softly I opened the window and stepped out on to the balcony. The sight which met my eyes filled me with astonishment and anger.
A tall, well-built cavalier, with his back against the wall immediately beneath me, the crown of his hat almost on a level with the balcony, which was not more than six feet from the ground, stood defending himself with masterly dexterity against the onslaught of three evil-looking knaves. ”

“ He had removed his mask, and a wild panic seized me as, by the light of a street lamp, I recognized—the Cardinal!
“Well, my young friend,” he laughed, “you are in luck to-night; and since you have caught Richelieu breaking his own edicts, you have a right to expect that he will not judge you over harshly, and that for once this ‘great and just man’ will err on the side of mercy.”
“Your Eminence!” I cried.
He raised his hand, upon which I now beheld the sacred amethyst which had so subjugated the sergeant.
“Say no more,” he said; “you owe me nothing, while I owe you my life. ”

“ As for this Castelroc, I am sorry to keep you from Mademoiselle de la Haudraye for a few moments longer; but I shall be grateful if you will afford me the amusement of beholding his face when we walk in, arm in arm, to grant him the audience for which he is, no doubt, still awaiting. I know the gentleman of old; he was involved in a Gascon plot last winter, and had a finger in one of Anne of Austria’s tasty pies a few weeks ago. I have been lately thinking of finding him a change of lodging, and your story has decided me. I do not think a sojourn in the Bastille would be amiss, do you? ”

“ He fell heavily across his companion’s body; then, raising himself by a stupendous effort, he fastened one arm around my leg, and attempted to shorten his sword; but the exertion overcame him, and as I kicked my leg free, he sank down in a swoon.
The whole affair had not lasted two minutes, and the cavalier was still at work with his opponent; but when, turning, I advanced to his aid, the remaining ruffian sprang back, and setting off at a mad gallop down the street, was soon lost to our eyes and ears alike. ”

“ But as I gazed upon the ornament, I turned my thoughts to the time it measured, and in spirit I followed the Marquis de Castelroc to the Palais Cardinal.
“Even now,” I thought, “he will be there; say he is kept waiting five minutes, it will be half-past eight before he has speech of the Cardinal, another five minutes to relate his story, and ten minutes for his return, accompanied by an officer of Richelieu’s guards, or of the Mousquetaires.
“By a quarter to nine I shall be arrested; by nine o’clock I shall be in the Châtelet, and by to-morrow in the Bastille.” ”

“ I remain in Paris.”
“I will give you twenty-four hours to deliberate,” he cried.
“My mind will be unaltered in twenty-four years.”
“Then, Mon Dieu, I will go at once.” And he touched a bell that stood upon the table. “My hat and cloak, Guitant,” he said to the servant who answered his summons, “and order my carriage. I am going to the Palais Cardinal.”
“And I to the Rue du Bac,” I cried, as the door closed upon the lackey.
“Where?” he ejaculated.
“To the Rue du Bac, to tell Mademoiselle de la Haudraye what manner of man you are, and what you are about to do. ”

“ And at the thought I fell to cursing myself for not having acted sooner.
In ten minutes Castelroc would be back. Yes, but that was if he gained immediate audience. What if the Cardinal kept him waiting? He might spend a half-hour, an hour, or even two hours in the ante-chamber. Richelieu was not particular, and he had tried the patience of better men than Castelroc in this fashion.
Still, fortune favors fools and rogues as well as brave men, so that it would not do to build my hopes upon a moonbeam. Of ten minutes I was certain, and what a desperate man could do in ten minutes, I would do. ”

“ Reaching out, I tied with trembling hands a corner of my cloak to that most à propos of stanchions. Even as I completed the task, a carriage came rumbling down the street; I felt myself grow cold with apprehension. Could this be Castelroc?
I went near to dropping from my perch on the window-sill at the thought. But the coach passed on, and I took its advent as a good omen. I would cheat the dog yet! And I verily believe that I laughed, as I lowered myself gently from the window. ”

“ I answered with some warmth.
“Still,” he persisted, puckering his brows, “not so well as a young man of your years should do. Lorraine is a particularly healthy country. You will take the appointment.”
“A plague on the appointment!” I exclaimed, unable longer to restrain the anger which his impertinence excited; “I do not want it! Do you not understand me, sir? Nôtre Dame! But your persistence grows wearisome. Permit me to bid you good-night; I have pressing matters to attend to.”
So saying, I reached out for my hat which lay on the table beside the lighted tapers. ”

“ Germain to fight without seconds, trusting to each other’s honor, so that there might be no witnesses, and so that the survivor might not be pestered with the law—Beausire was the Cardinal’s nephew.
Again Castelroc repeated that monotonous question, “Will you accept the appointment?”
For an instant I wavered, and had it not been for the memory of Mademoiselle de la Haudraye, who, at that very moment, would, I knew, be waiting for me in the Rue du Bac, I believe I should have ended by assenting. As it was, I could not leave Paris then. ”

“ With the agility of a reptile I wriggled across the room, and having turned myself upon my face, I contrived to kneel. Next, with my chin upon the table, I strove to raise the weight of my body.
I had almost succeeded when of a sudden my feet slipped, and I fell heavily to the ground, dragging the table with me. Two of the tapers spluttered and went out, but the third, fortunately, still burned upon the floor. ”

“ I must have a reason.”
“And, by Heaven, you shall!” he retorted furiously. “Listen, sir. There is a certain lady in Paris whom I love and whom I desire to wed, but I may not do so while you are by.”
The absurdity of his explanation was such that I could not withhold a laugh. ”

“ If these men had no respect for the laws of the king, they might at least have some for the laws of chivalry. I did not hesitate a moment what to do; I forgot my own affairs utterly, and drawing my sword I vaulted over the low wooden railings, and like the warrior St. Michael from heaven to do battle for the right, I dropped, with a yell, into their astonished midst.
CHAPTER III.
Nôtre Dame! ”