Stanley J. Weyman

“ His thin face, his dark moustache, and whitening hair, gave him an air of indescribable keenness. ‘I am not the King,’ he said. ‘Besides, I am told that you have killed as many as six men in duels. You owe the King, therefore, one life at least. You must pay it. There is no more to be said, M. de Berault,’ he continued coldly, turning away and beginning to collect some papers. ‘The law must take its course.’
I thought that he was about to nod to the lieutenant to withdraw me, and a chilling sweat broke out down my back. ”

“ You understand?’
‘I understand, Monseigneur,’ I answered.
‘You will get into the house as you can,’ he continued with energy. ‘For that you will need strategy, and good strategy. They suspect everybody. You must deceive them. If you fail to deceive them, or, deceiving them, are found out later, I do not think that you will trouble me again, or break the edict a second time. On the other hand, should you deceive me’—he smiled still more subtly, but his voice sank to a purring note—‘I will break you on the wheel like the ruined gamester you are!’
I met his look without quailing. ”

“ Nevertheless, a little later, when I found myself on my way to the Hôtel Richelieu under so close a guard that I could see nothing in the street except the figures that immediately surrounded me, I wished that I had given him the money. At such times, when all hangs in the balance and the sky is overcast, the mind runs on luck and old superstitions, and is prone to think a crown given here may avail there—though there be a hundred leagues away. ”

“ He had spirit enough, and the Marquis had had hard work to restrain him so long. ‘You do me no service, M. de Pombal,’ he continued, pettishly shaking off his friend’s hand. ‘By your leave, this gentleman and I will settle this matter.’
‘That is better,’ I said, nodding drily, while the Marquis stood aside, frowning and baffled. ‘Permit me to lead the way.’
Zaton’s eating-house stands scarcely a hundred paces from St. Jacques la Boucherie, and half the company went thither with us. The evening was wet, the light in the streets was waning, the streets themselves were dirty and slippery. ”

“ That stung the Marquis. ‘Have a care! have a care!’ he cried hotly. ‘You go too far, M. Berault.’
‘De Berault, if you please,’ I objected, eyeing him sternly. ‘My family has borne the de as long as yours, M. de Pombal.’
He could not deny that, and he answered, ‘As you please’; at the same time restraining his friend by a gesture. ‘But none the less, take my advice,’ he continued. ‘The Cardinal has forbidden duelling, and this time he means it! You have been in trouble once and gone free. A second time it may fare worse with you. Let this gentleman go, therefore, M. de Berault. ”

“ The edict said, death!
And the lieutenant at the Châtelet did not put himself to much trouble to hearten me. ‘What! again M. de Berault?’ he said, raising his eyebrows as he received me at the gate, and recognized me by the light of the brazier which his men were just kindling outside. ‘You are a very bold man, Sir, or a very foolhardy one, to come here again. ”

“ Jacques.’
‘He looked dead enough, my friend,’ the guardsman interposed. He had not yet gone.
‘Bah!’ I answered scornfully. ‘Have you ever known me make a mistake When I kill a man I kill him. I put myself to pains, I tell you, not to kill this Englishman. Therefore he will live.’
‘I hope so,’ the lieutenant said, with a dry smile. ‘And you had better hope so, too, M. de Berault. For if not—’
‘Well?’ I said, somewhat troubled. ‘If not, what, my friend?’
‘I fear he will be the last man you will fight,’ he answered. ‘And even if he lives, I would not be too sure, my friend. ”

“ Choosing the latter, I was left to reflect upon many things; among others, on the queer and uncertain nature of the Cardinal, who loved, I knew, to play with a man as a cat with a mouse; and on the ill effects which sometimes attend a high chest-thrust, however carefully delivered. ”

“ And at that there was a great roar of laughter, which might have been heard in the street, and which brought to the table everyone in the eating-house whom his voice had not already attracted. But I did not relax my face. I waited until all was quiet again, and then waving aside two or three who stood between us and the entrance, I pointed gravely to the door. ‘There is a little space behind the church of St. Jacques, M. l’Etranger,’ I said, putting on my hat and taking my cloak on my arm. ”

“ On the other hand, you have taken six to my knowledge, M. de Berault. You have lived the life of a bully, a common bravo, a gamester. You, a man of family! For shame! Do you wonder that it has brought you to this! ”