"All the better; we shall be able to distinguish friends from enemies. It will be an awful thing, but once Conde is well beaten the country will stand a chance of peace. The Duke of Orleans will join forces with the Queen?" "I cannot say," answered Raoul shamefacedly; "he is pulled this way and that, by both parties. Most probably he will wait to find how things go." "Then he is a coward as well as a traitor! _Faugh!_ I wonder you have patience to stay with him! I can understand a loyalist and even a rebel, but a weather-cock like the Duke is beyond me. Why does he not come boldly into the open? This twisting and turning will do him no good. One would imagine he was a hunted hare." "There is no need to ask what you will do?" "Not a bit, I shall join the royal army and serve as a trooper, if no better berth offers. Thank goodness the field is clear now, and we shall know where we stand. But first I must get Marie and her aunt out of the city. Paris will not be safe for them when the mob rises, as it is sure to do. But I have some further news; my cousin is dead." "I thought you said he died weeks ago." "Pillot spread that rumour about, but there can be no mistake now, as I have just come from his deathbed," and, while my friend listened attentively, I related the strange story of the past night. "Poor fellow!" exclaimed Raoul; "we were never very friendly, but I am sorry for him. He would have made a name for himself in time. He must have had some good points for Pillot to stick to him so closely. The little man will be lost without his master." "He has taken service with me." "I have no doubt he will serve you well. Shall you go to the Rue Crillon at once?" "Yes, and endeavour to induce Madame Coutance to leave before the danger becomes pressing. Well, I must be off, and I wish you were coming with me." "I shall follow you," he said resolutely, "and fight for the Crown, with or without the consent of the Duke." "Bravo, old friend!" I cried impetuously. "Conde against De Retz or Orleans I can understand; but Conde against the Throne is another matter. The point of every honest man's sword should be turned against a traitor! Why not come now?" "Because the Duke may yet take the field for the Queen! He must make up his mind in a few days at the most."