'Brought me the key of the cabinet, which, with a significant glance, the Countess threw to her from the carriage unseen, as she drove off with the King; and mademoiselle told me to release you. But, my friend, to be one of the Scottish Guard, you are engaged in a perilous game, I think. Peste! if King Louis discovers you playing at bo-peep in Clara's apartment, I would not give much for your chance of promotion, unless at the Place de la Grève.' 'These risks are my own, Chevalier,' I replied coldly; 'but pray what Prince is this whom I have the honour of being before?' 'Your word of honour that you will not mention his name to any one?' I gave the promise, laying a hand on my heart. 'Allow me to make known to each other,' said the Chevalier, with somewhat of a mock reverence, 'M. Arthur Blane, of the Garde du Corps Ecossais, and Monseigneur the Prince of Vaudemont.' 'Son of Charles IV. of Lorraine!' I exclaimed, aghast. 'The same--Duke Charles, for whom I am governor of the city of La Mothe, and bailiff of Bassignie. Oho! we have been spending a jovial month in Paris, overhearing and overseeing all King Louis' pretty little preparations for a war upon the Rhine, and we shall be delighted to see you in Lorraine, and all other brave gallants of the Guard. Ma foi! but we will perfume your new moustaches for you! To-morrow, or so, will be the grand ceremony of taking the terrible banner of the oriflamme from St. Denis; but we shall see that too. And now, my dear M. Blane, away to Paris as fast as you may! You are acting rashly, as others have done before you; but beware of your game, and that king Louis does not checkmate you; for this cabinet has more than once led to the Bastille.' 'Thanks, M. d'Ische; but why do you concern yourself about me?' 'Because you are a bold fellow, whose hands can keep his head. But away, I tell you; in Lorraine we will meet ere long, and try again those little sword-thrusts which we exchanged so awkwardly on the Quai de la Grève.' 'Come with us, monsieur,' said the Prince, a handsome and winning young man, 'we have a fiacre in waiting to take me to Paris. We go to Marion de l'Orme's to-night, disguised as officers of Swiss, and we will set you down at the Pont de Notre Dame.' 'Allons,' said the Chevalier; 'let us begone then.' An hour after this, we separated at the bridge of the Seine: they wheeled off to the salons of the most beautiful but most dissipated woman in Paris; whilst I, glad to be rid of companions so dangerous as the spies and enemies of the King, returned slowly, thoughtfully, and somewhat crest-fallen, to the Louvre. CHAPTER XV. NICOLA. After these occurrences, a fortnight elapsed, and during all that time I did not visit the Countess, and I never received any message from her, a circumstance which rather piqued and surprised me; so, during that fortnight I imitated a little of the dissipation of my companions.