CHAPTER XIV.
I Fall into a Trap.
For a short while I remained trying to understand clearly what hadhappened, but it was all so strange that I could make nothing of it.There was, of course, no mystery in Peleton's attempt on my life, butwhat was I to think of Maubranne's rescue?
The baron had distinctly stated I had no reason to thank him, I wasonly enjoying a respite, and that for the oddest of reasons--the Abbehad need of me! What could be made of so astounding a remark as that?De Retz was no friend to me, while almost every act of mine had beenopposed to his interests. Without having the least suspicion as to theactual truth, I felt that the Abbe's plans boded me no good. I waslike a person groping in the darkness, and expecting every moment tofall into a deep pit.
"Can't you wait?" Maubranne had asked.
For what was Peleton to wait? And how could it affect me? Why shouldthe fellow's temper spoil everything? From Maubranne's words itappeared that the success of their scheme, whatever it was, depended onme. Yet from the very beginning I had fought them tooth and nail.
"This business will drive me crazy," I muttered, "it is worse than themuddle at La Boule d'Or. Both these blackguards would gladly give me afew inches of steel, and yet, having me wholly in their power, they dome no injury. It is evident that I, in some manner, am to further theinterests of their party. Am I to be offered a bribe?"
This was making myself out to be a person of some consequence, but Icould think of nothing else. However, it was useless to stand thereall night, so, keeping a keen look-out for fresh danger, I hurried fromthe court and made straight for the Pont Neuf. A few night-birds wereabroad, but I passed on swiftly, keeping well within the shadow of thewalls.
As it chanced, the night's adventures were not finished even yet.Turning into the Rue des Carolines, I was almost at home, when a man,slipping from the shadow of a doorway, swung a lantern in my face.Peleton's cowardly attack had put me on my guard, and in less than asecond my sword was at the fellow's throat.
He was either very stupid or very brave.
"M. de Lalande?" said he quietly, and, thrusting a folded paper into myhand, vanished.
I ran a few yards hoping to catch him, but he was soon swallowed up inthe darkness, and there was nothing for it but to return. In my room Iopened the packet with nervous haste. The letter, or rather note,consisted of only a few words, and had no signature. I gazed at thewriting curiously, it was cramped, partly illegible, and in a man'shand. By supplying a letter here and there I managed to piece togetherthe strange message.
"When the net is spread openly, only a foolish bird will be ensnared.A wise one will fly away. An old story relates how a swallow oncefound safety in the tents of an army."
Nothing more! I read it through again and again till I had learnedevery word by heart. Who wrote it? I knew not. I counted no friendsamong the enemy, and danger was hardly likely to come from Raoul'sparty. Peleton's attempt to murder me was merely the outcome ofpersonal spite, and had nothing to do with this fresh adventure. Yet,on one point, the message was clear. Some peril threatened me, and mybest chance of safety lay in flight. But why? I sat down to threshthe matter out.
Including my cousin, I had three enemies. Henri disliked me, because Ihad, to a certain extent, spoiled his plans; yet I did not, for aninstant, imagine that he sought my life--that was out of all reason.There remained Maubranne and Peleton, either of whom would kill mewithout scruple, but that very night the baron had interfered to savemy life! Once more I was forced back on the mystery attached to hiswords. What was it the Abbe proposed to do with me? Buzz! buzz! buzz!The question hummed in my head till I was nearly wild. It went with meto bed, it kept me awake half the night, and was the first thing I wasconscious of in the morning.
Directly after breakfast, I hurried to the Luxembourg to take counselwith Raoul. He was on duty, but young D'Arcy, observing my agitation,volunteered to relieve him.
"What is it?" asked my comrade anxiously. "Has anything happened?Here, come into this room where we shall not be interrupted."
Without delay I plunged into the story, telling him first of themysterious spy in the Rue Crillon, the encounter with Peleton, andMaubranne's strange action and words.
"Well, my friend," said he, "you have an adventure on hand now thatought to keep your time fairly occupied! I don't understand it in theleast, but it is plain you have become an important person. There isone thing I would like to know, but don't answer if you would rathernot. Are you in Mazarin's secrets?"
"I have heard nothing of the Cardinal since my visit to Aunay."
"Then that notion falls to the ground. I thought De Retz might imagineyou could give him some useful information. And yet, I don't know.People say he is already in the Queen's confidence."
"Well," I remarked, "if the first chapter is exciting, what do youthink of the second?" and I showed him the warning note, which he readwith a strangely puzzled air.
"Where did this come from?" he asked, and I informed him, adding thatthe messenger was a total stranger whom I should be unable to recognise.
"Still," said he, "it shows there is some one in the Abbe's confidencewho wishes you well. I wonder if it can be Madame de Chevreuse? Sheis concerned with most of his plans."
"I have not met her since the night of the ball and besides, this is aman's writing."
"That can be accounted for easily; she employs several secretaries."
I shook my head, saying Madame de Chevreuse was not likely to interestherself in my welfare.
After walking about the room for a time, Raoul stopped and exclaimed,"Suppose we are looking at the matter from the wrong side? How can yoube certain this note comes from a friend? It may be a trick to lureyou away from Paris!"
"If so, it will fail. I will not leave the city for an hour, even wereTurenne to offer me the command of a regiment."
"Why not accept service with the Duke? You would be in a much saferposition."
"No. I will see this thing through alone. I will not budge a foot forall the fighting priests in the country."
"Don't be over venturesome. De Retz is a crafty foe and is playingjust now for high stakes. If rumour speaks true, he is going to try afall with Conde himself. Now I must set Armand at liberty, but I willcome to your rooms at the first opportunity. Meanwhile, if you requirehelp, a note will bring me instantly."
I returned home still in a state of bewilderment. The mystery was asdark as ever, and, cudgel my brains as I would, I could throw no lighton it.
That same evening I laid the case before John Humphreys, but naturallyhe was unable to offer any explanation.
"Show me an enemy," said he, "and I will stand up against him, but I ama poor hand at fighting shadows. However, it is plain enough that someone has marked you down, and you will have to walk warily."
That, indeed, was the only advice any one could offer. The thing whichtroubled me most at this time was the presence of the spy in the RueCrillon. The ladies apparently had not noticed him, so I said nothingto them, but continued to keep a strict watch on the mysteriousstranger who night after night prowled about near their house. What heexpected to gain was difficult to imagine, as he neither followedMadame Coutance abroad nor attempted to molest her. At first I thoughthim a clumsy fellow, but twice when I tried to catch him he vanishedcleverly down the narrow streets.
One evening, while strolling carelessly along the Rue Pierre, I met mycousin Henri. He was wearing a long mantle with a hood, and appearedin a great hurry. To my surprise, however, he stopped and exclaimedquite cordially, "Ah, cousin, you are a stranger! I have not seen youfor a long time. I was sorry to hear of Peleton's mad prank. Were youhurt?"
"No," said I, rather shortly.
"You are a lucky fellow, Albert. For a lad from the country, you havedone well. _Peste!_ You have made quite a splash in the world, and Iam proud of my cousin."
"You do me great honour," said I, with a mocking bow.
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br /> "Not more than you deserve. By the way, is it true that you havejoined Conde's party?"
"Why?"
"Because you were with his mob when Madame Coutance behaved sostupidly."
"I did my best to save a woman from being torn to pieces--nothing more."
"It was very gallant of you," and then, as an afterthought, "so youstill fancy there is a chance of Mazarin's return?"
"There may be, or not. I only know that I am pledged to assist him,and that the De Lalandes have been taught to keep their word."
"Quite right!" returned Henri, gaily. "Well, adieu, my faithfulcousin! Your constancy is touching, and I hope it may bring you goodfortune, but of that I am doubtful," and, with a careless laugh, hehurried on.
"Planning some fresh mischief!" I muttered, and dismissed the incidentfrom my mind.
Nearly a week had now passed since the receipt of the mysterious note,and nothing of consequence had happened. Every day I went into thestreets without disguise or attempt at concealment, and no one paid anyattention to my doings.
About this time the city was considerably agitated, and filled with allsorts of conflicting rumours. Among other things it was hinted thatMazarin, having re-entered France, was marching at the head of aforeign army on Paris, with the avowed object of razing it to theground.
De Retz, laughing in his sleeve, went about attended by a numerous andwell-armed retinue to protect him from being murdered; Conde followedhis example, and the _petits maitres_ swaggered more than ever,especially when they met the friends of De Retz; at the Hotel Vendome,the Duke of Beaufort stayed in bed, having, according to rumour, beenpoisoned; while Gaston of Orleans was popularly supposed to have joinedfour separate plots in one day, and betrayed them all to the Queenbefore night. Thus far, however, nothing serious had resulted fromthese wonderful doings, and I was chiefly concerned with my own privateaffairs.
"It seems to me," I said to Raoul one night, as we walked togethertoward the Rue Crillon, "that we have been making a mountain out of amole-hill. More than a week has passed now since the warning, and I amnone the worse."
"Yet the spy still keeps watch?"
"He was there last night, but I could not get near him. Perhaps youmay have better luck."
The man was in his usual place, and I pointed him out to Raoul,whispering, "That is he. Are you acquainted with him?"
"No. He belongs to the class that either De Retz or Conde can buy bythe dozen. Don't look that way. Let us cross the road. I will slipthrough this alley and enter the street at the other end; then we shallhave him between us."
Unfortunately for our purpose the fellow was particularly wide-awake,and as Raoul appeared at the corner he moved away. Followingcautiously, we kept him in sight for a good distance, but finally hedisappeared in a maze of alleys.
"_Peste!_" exclaimed my comrade, discontentedly, "he is an artfulrascal. If we could catch him he might be able to tell us all we wantto learn. There must be some reason for his actions. Is he alwaysalone?"
"Always."
"We must set a trap for him."
"Let me try once more by myself. I dislike the idea of being beaten bya spy."
"As you will; and if you fail, I will borrow some troopers from theLuxembourg and lay him by the heels. At all events the fellow willknow who pays him."
The next night I set off for the Rue Crillon, and, after spending anhour or two with Marie and her aunt, went back into the street. Myman, as usual, was in full view, and it appeared to me, rather overdidhis part, as if he was anxious to attract my attention.
However, there was not much leisure for reflection, and I walkedquickly and boldly towards him, when he immediately made off. Angry atbeing baulked so often, and determined to discover his business, Ifollowed sharply, and nearly caught him at the bottom of the narrowstreet running at right angles to the Rue Crillon. A stupidcharcoal-burner lost me my advantage here, but perceiving which way thespy went I hurried on in the same direction.
For half an hour I patiently tracked my quarry, through a network ofnarrow streets and alleys crossing and re-crossing each other like anEastern puzzle. By this time I was hopelessly astray, never havingbeen in that quarter, which was one of the worst in the city. Underother circumstances I should have feared to trust myself in thosehorrible courts, but now I did not even remember the danger.
Presently the spy himself seemed doubtful as to which turning to take.He stood a moment in apparent hesitation, but, finding me close on hisheels, darted as if at random up a narrow entrance. It was a_cul-de-sac_ containing perhaps half a dozen houses, and I chuckledinwardly on finding how completely he had trapped himself. I could nothave desired a better place for my purpose. The court was very quiet;the houses were old and dilapidated, and the inmates had either gone tobed or had not returned from their nightly wanderings. We two had aclear stage to ourselves.
The man was a regular coward after all. He looked this way and thatwith frightened eyes, ran on a few paces as if hoping to find a wayout, came back, and finally made a dash to get past me.
"Oh, ho, not so fast, my good fellow!" I cried, barring his path."Where are you going in such a hurry?"
"I have lost my way, monsieur," he answered in a whining voice.
"How strange! So have I! We may as well keep each other company.Don't look like that, I am not going to hurt you."
"I feared monsieur meant to kill me," he whimpered.
"Bah! I only want a little information, which will be well paid for.Are you willing to earn ten crowns?"
"Ten crowns, monsieur? Certainly."
"Then tell me what you do in the Rue Crillon and who pays you? Answerthese questions and here are the ten crowns."
"And if not, monsieur?" said he, still whining like a beggar.
"If not it will be the worse for you. Quick, make your choice, Icannot stay here for ever."
It was the rascal's turn now to laugh, as some one, throwing a heavymantle over my head, tripped me up violently.
"His sword, quick! Take it away! Tie his arms firmly; he is a madbull for fighting. Now his pistols, Francois, you fat pig! Softlymonsieur! Tap him on the head if he struggles. Are you ready, Pierre?What a time! are your fingers in knots? Now, monsieur, yourchoice--will you come quietly or must we use force?"
I lay on the ground half dazed and only partly understanding thefellow's meaning, so, to awaken my interest he repeated his questions,pressing one of my own pistols to my head.
"Take that thing away," I said, "and help me to my feet. You have theupper hand at present."
Laughing mischievously, he withdrew the weapon, and his companions,pushing me upright, half led, half dragged me into one of thedilapidated houses. We ascended a flight of stairs, went along anarrow passage, and so into a room which had been prepared for myreception.
At least, that was the conclusion I arrived at when two of the menhaving gone out, the third said, "Monsieur, there is a bed of straw inthe corner, the door is bolted, the window barred, and I am going tokeep watch inside all night, while Pierre and Francois relieve eachother outside the door."
I could not see the speaker, as the room was in darkness, but his voicesounded familiar, and I tried, but in vain, to remember where I hadheard it before. However, this did not matter, so I lay down on thestraw, and wondered what the adventure meant.
Who were my gaolers, and what did they intend to do with me? PresentlyMaubranne's words flashed into my mind, and set me thinking that thismight be a move in the plot at which the mysterious note hinted. Justhow De Retz could make use of me I had not the faintest notion, but hewas a clever schemer, and had, presumably, laid his plans carefully.However, as no amount of speculation on this head would improvematters, I began to reflect on the best way of escape. My arms weretightly bound, the door was well secured, the window barred, and agaoler, wide-awake and armed, sat between me and it. Altogether theprospect was far from cheering.
"Sleep will perhaps bring counsel," I
muttered, and, turning on myside, I dozed off into a light, restless slumber.
With the coming of day I was able to make an inspection of my newabode. The room was small, dirty, out of repair, and destitute offurniture. In the corner opposite to mine was another heap of straw,and on it sat the man whom long ago I had gagged and bound in thechamber at La Boule d'Or, and who afterwards was my companion fromAunay to Paris. Perceiving that I recognised him, the rascal showedhis teeth in a broad grin, and exclaimed, "The wheel has turned,monsieur! It seems that we have changed parts."
"And you are uppermost this time," I answered, striving to speakgood-humouredly, for it is a bad plan to quarrel with one's gaoler.
Rising and taking a turn round the room, Pillot stood still at my side.
"Listen to me, monsieur," said he. "Some months ago I lost the game toyou and you acted like a lad of honour. When your own life was indanger you remembered me, and I am still grateful. Now let me give youa friendly warning. Of course, you are planning to get away. Abandonthe idea, as you cannot escape alive. There is an armed man beneaththe window, while Pierre or Francois will knock you on the head withoutthe least hesitation. We all have our orders."
"_Merci!_ It is just as well to know what one has to expect. Do theorders include starving your prisoner?"
"Here comes Francois in reply to the question; but you must pass yourword not to take advantage if I unbind you."
After a moment's reflection I gave the required promise, upon whichPillot untied my arms, and then, opening the door, admitted Francois,who carried the food.
"Here is breakfast, monsieur," said the dwarf, making an elaborate bow."It is not as good as the supper we enjoyed together in the villageinn, but Francois has not had much experience in the character of host.Later on he will doubtless acquit himself better."