The Grey Cloak

"I bow to all that," said the marquis. "It was brutal, cruel; it was

all you say. But the fact remains that it is done and that a part of

it must be undone."

"Your sense of justice does credit to a great noble like yourself.

Worldly reparation you may make, but you have wounded his heart and

soul beyond all earthly reparation."

"The worldly reparation quite satisfies me," replied the marquis,

fumbling with his lips. "As I observed, sentiment is out of the

question. Monsieur le Comte would not let me love him if I would,"

lightly. "I wish to undo as much as possible the evil I have done. If

he refuses to return to France, that is his affair, not mine. I shall

be the last to urge him. This Monsieur de Saumaise is a poet, I

understand."

"Who writes equally well with his sword."

"I should like to meet him. How long before De Leviston and

D'Hérouville will be out of hospital?"

"D'Hérouville, any day; De Leviston has a bad fever, having taken cold."

The marquis had not acquired the habit of smoking, so the governor lit

his pipe and smoked alone.

"Your Excellency, who is this handsome young priest who goes by the

name of Brother Jacques; of what family?"

"That I do not know; no one knows; not even Father Chaumonot, who is

his sponsor. The good Father picked him up somewhere in Italy and

placed him in a convent."

"Monsieur le Comte, then, is at Three Rivers?"

"Yes; and to-morrow we shall set out for him; though he may return at

any hour."

"I thank your Excellency. The Henri IV sails by next week, so I

understand. I daresay that we both shall be on it. At any rate, I

shall wait."

The door opened and Jehan, expressing as much excitement as his

weather-beaten face made possible, stood before them.

"Well?" said the marquis.

"Monsieur le Comte is returned from Three Rivers, and is about to dine

in the citadel."

"Tell a trooper that the presence of Monsieur le Chevalier is requested

here at once. Do not let the Chevalier see you," and the governor rose

and laid down his pipe. "I will leave the room at your service,

Monsieur."

"It is very kind of you." If the marquis was excited, or nervous,

there was nothing on his face to indicate it.

Jehan and the governor made their exits through opposite doors; and

Monsieur le Marquis sat alone. Several minutes passed. Once or twice

the marquis turned his attention to his wine-soaked sleeve. Steps were

heard in the corridor, but these died away in the distance. From time

to time the old man's hand wandered to his throat, as if something was

bothering him there. Time marked off a quarter of an hour. Then the

door opened, and a man entered; a man bronzed of countenance, tall, and

deep of chest. He wore the trapper's blouse and fringed leggings.

From where he stood he could not see who sat at the table.