Don Diaz led him across the room, and spoke in a soft undertone. "It is judged best, señor, that no secret should be made of your visit to Madrid. M. de Lauvinière might then suspect. I need not warn you to be on your guard with him. There he stands, near the door." The Frenchman was a man with grey hair and a hook nose. His eyes were deep-set, and he looked piercingly. Upon Don Diaz's presentation of the Chevalier he bowed, and looked with a keenness that probed deep. "A cousin of the Duc de Guise?" he said. "I do not think...." He frowned a little, and his eyes never wavered from Beauvallet's face. "But I claim the very slightest acquaintance with the Guises." Therein lay a certain safeguard, thought Beauvallet. It was not to be expected that a member of the Court party would be on terms of friendship with the great Guise family. "I am a distant cousin of the Duc's, monsieur," said Sir Nicholas. "So?" De Lauvinière looked still more searchingly. "Of what branch of the family, monsieur, if one may ask?" It would not do to hesitate. "Of the junior branch, monsieur. The Duc is my cousin in the second degree." "I have heard of you, monsieur," the ambassador said. "I had thought you a younger man. Do you make a long stay in Madrid?" "Why no, monsieur, I believe not. I have a desire to visit Sevilla and Toledo." "Ah yes, you should certainly journey south," nodded de Lauvinière. A lady came up on the arm of her husband to claim his attention. Beauvallet drew back thankfully. Had he been vouchsafed a glimpse of a postscript added to de Lauvinière's letter home, and despatched upon the morrow, it might have shaken his nerve. "_I should be glad_," wrote his excellency, "_if you would discover what age man is the Chevalier Claude de Guise, cousin to the present Duc. Let me have what news you can hear of him, in especial of what like he is, of what height, and of what lineaments. Your assured friend, Henri de Lauvinière._" CHAPTER X In bed next morning Sir Nicholas sipped a cup of chocolate and gave ear to his servant. Joshua had the news he wanted, and imparted it after his own fashion as he laid out his master's dress. A bottle of wine with the landlord of the Rising Sun had loosened a tongue that dealt much in gossip. Who so clever as Joshua Dimmock at finding out information? Let Sir Nicholas be at ease: the lady was found. "In the guardianship of her aunt. I know," Sir Nicholas said. Joshua was put out. "Ay, so it is, and Don Manuel dead these three months. The lady inherits all--all!" "That does not concern us," said Beauvallet. "She cannot carry her lands to England." "True, master, very true. But here is somewhat you may not have heard. Her espousals are talked of." Sir Nicholas yawned. "They will be more talked of yet," said he. "Master, the tale runs that she will wed her cousin, one Diego de Carvalho."