"Lucette de Mirepoix du Valais," said the cardinal, slowly and thoughtfully: "the same,--the same, Tronson. Do you not remember there was much contention, some six years ago, between Madame de Luynes and this scheming rebel Soubise, about the guardianship of this very girl? There the duchess was right, for she would have brought her into the bosom of the Church; but Soubise was too quick for her, and sent the child away,--perhaps to England, to make sure she should be brought up in heresy. But my fair duchess shall find me worse to deal with than Soubise. But you said just now," he continued, in a calmer tone, "that all could be easily explained. What did you mean, my friend?" "Merely that her travelling with this youth is a problem easily solved," answered the secretary. "Last night, when they parted, there were some warm kisses passed,--not at all fraternal, your Eminence; and, putting those gentle signs in connection with some words and rosy blushes, I conclude that they are bent on matrimony. Probably they have found difficulties at home, and, as is not unfrequent with these English, they have gone off together." "Is the young man of noble birth, think you?" asked the cardinal, thoughtfully. "Not of high rank, even amongst the English," answered Tronson: "his very name shows it." Richelieu smiled, but this time it was a bland and pleasant smile. "We will punish her," he said, speaking to himself,--"punish both!" "But, your Eminence, if the safe-conduct be yours, as I think, and the young man be really what he pretends, you will hardly----" "Hand me that leathern bag and the knife," said the minister, interrupting him, and seemingly paying not the slightest attention to the secretary's words. "And now," he continued, when De Tronson had obeyed, "let the youth be brought to me; and have the girl taken to the adjoining room, ready to be brought in when I require her: see that no one converses with her, my excellent good friend." The secretary bowed his head and withdrew, repeating to himself, "'My excellent friend!'--I have someway offended him. His words are too kind!" But then, after a moment's thought, he murmured, in almost the same words which Richelieu had used a minute or two before, "Can the king have betrayed me? If so, he has betrayed himself too; for God knows I advised him solely for his benefit."