"Pardon me, monsieur," he said, "but I am always amused by a comedy, and this one is so rich. It is like a battle in which both sides are beaten, and yet both claim the victory. You have the paper and cannot make use of it, while I----" "You are in more danger than you seem to imagine." "I think not, monsieur," he answered coolly. It was certainly a most awkward position, and I tried in vain to hit upon some plan of action. If only the man would speak, and speak the truth, he could make everything plain. I could not bribe him, and if I could he would probably deceive me, but was there not a chance of alarming him? I endeavoured to recall what Belloc had said. Henri was hand in glove with De Retz, who was Mazarin's enemy, so that the messenger would probably not relish an interview with the Cardinal. "Come," I said at length, "let us make a bargain. You shall tell me the meaning of this letter, and I will set you free. What do you say?" "That you offer me nothing for something, monsieur, which is a good bargain for you. Suppose I do not fall in with such a tempting offer?" "In that case," I replied, speaking as sternly as possible, "I shall hand you over to the Guards of Cardinal Mazarin." At this the rascal laughed merrily, saying, "The Cardinal may be a great personage at the Palais Royal, but his credit is low in the Rue de Roi. No, no, monsieur, you must try again." It was unpleasant to be played with in this manner, yet there was no remedy. I was still wondering what to do, when suddenly there came a sound of footsteps in the corridor, and some one knocked at the door. The dwarf grinned with delight, but, pointing a pistol at his head, I bade him be silent, and asked who was without. "Armand d'Arcy." I recognised the voice at once as that of the youngster who had brought me to the inn. The little man also knew my visitor, and moved uneasily in his chair till my pistol came in contact with his neck; then he sat still. "Pardon! I am engaged." "But you must spare five minutes. I have come on purpose to see you," and lowering his voice he added earnestly, "the affair takes place to-night." Laughing softly at my prisoner, I said aloud, "What of it? You know what to do." "Then nothing is to be changed?" and there was a note of surprise in D'Arcy's voice. "Not as far as I am concerned." "And you will be there by ten without fail?" "Certainly, why not?" "Well, there was a rumour floating about last night that you intended to withdraw." "Rumour is generally a false jade," I said coolly. "Ten o'clock, then, at the new church in the Rue St. Honore," and with that he retired, evidently annoyed at having been kept out of the room. "That lessens the value of your information," said I, turning to my prisoner. "Considerably," he replied cheerfully. "I judged monsieur wrongly. It is plain that his wits are as keen as his sword."