"What!" said Bois-Doré, "did you see Monsieur de Belleroze's _tragic actors_? They are as tiresome as forty days of rain!" "No, no; this troupe is called Sieur de Lambour's _French Comedians_, and there are some very clever people in it. But time flies, and here comes the faithful Adamas to say that the horses are ready, does he not? So let us be off, my dear Villareal, and as you have promised the marquis to come to-morrow to thank him, I invite myself to come with you." "I rely upon seeing you," rejoined Bois-Doré. "And you can also rely upon my furnishing you with proofs of all that I have alleged," said D'Alvimar, bowing very low. Bois-Doré replied only with a bow. Guillaume, who was in great haste to start, did not notice that the marquis, despite his apparent courtesy, refrained from offering his hand to the Spaniard, who dared not ask leave to touch his. XXX No sooner were they in the saddle than the marquis, turning to Adamas, said with much excitement: "Quickly, my gorget, my helmet, my weapons, my horse and two men!" "Everything is ready, monsieur," Adamas replied. "Master Jovelin advised us to prepare everything, saying that if Monsieur d'Ars went away again to-night, you would escort him. But for what purpose?" "You shall know when I return," said the marquis, going up to his chamber to don his armor. "Was care taken to saddle the horses in the small stable, so that only the men who are to accompany me will know of our departure?" "Yes, monsieur, I myself looked to it." "Are you going very far?" cried Mario, who had just supped with Mercedes and was returning to his bedroom. "No, my son, I am not going far. I shall return in two short hours. You must sleep quietly. Come quickly and kiss me!" "Oh! how handsome you are!" said Mario, artlessly. "Are you going to La Motte-Seuilly again?" "No, no, I am going to dance at a ball," the marquis replied with a smile. "Take me, so that I can see you dance," said the child. "I cannot; but be patient, my little cupid, for after to-morrow I will not take a step without you." When the old nobleman had donned his little cap of yellow leather striped with silver, with an inner lining of iron, and adorned with long plumes drooping over his shoulder; when he was arrayed in his short military cloak, his long sword, and his gorget of shining steel buckled beneath his lace ruff, Adamas could vow, without flattery, that he had an air of grandeur, especially as the excitement of the evening had caused his paint to disappear, so that he wore almost his natural face, by no means that of a popinjay. "Now you are ready, monsieur," said Adamas. "But am I not to go with you?" "No, my friend; you will close all the doors of my pavilion and pass the evening with my son. If he falls asleep, you will make up a camp-bed for him with cushions. I desire to find him here when I return; and now, hold a light for me, I want to talk with Master Jovelin in the salon."