I do not propose to linger over the remainder of the journey; if the account were a tithe as tedious as the actual ride I should lose all my readers. As far as Captain Courcy and his friends were concerned the paper was safe; they were not in the least likely to catch us, and if they did, Mazarin had as many friends as foes in that part of the country. Our chief danger now came from the highwaymen who prowled about the roads, and twice we were attacked by these worthies, who, however, upon finding us well-armed and resolute to defend ourselves, quickly moved off. It was, I think, on the fifth morning from leaving Mezieres that we rode into Bruhl, and being directed to the Cardinal's residence, encountered Roland Belloc, who at first did not recognise me. "Have you quite forgotten me?" said I. "De Lalande? Is it possible? I understood you were still in Paris." "I was there until a few days ago. But where is the Cardinal? I have a letter for him, and as soon as it is delivered I want to go to bed." "You shall see him at once, follow me." "Put the horses up somewhere, Pillot," I said, and throwing the reins to him, followed Belloc. Several French gentlemen wearing Mazarin's colours lounged about; the courtyard was filled with soldiers, and sentries were stationed at the entrance. As for the Cardinal himself he looked very little like a beaten man. "M. de Lalande," he purred in his silkiest tones, as Belloc showed me into the room. "You have been a long time doing my errand!" "A sword-thrust in the side kept me in bed some weeks," I replied, "and on my return to the city I found that your Eminence was no longer there." "Paris had grown unhealthy," said he smiling, "so I sought the purer air of the country. You, I believe, preferred the quiet seclusion of the Bastille." "The choice was none of mine, my Lord." "No? And so you have come to share my fortunes again?" "I have brought your Eminence a letter from Le Tellier," and I handed him the document, which I had previously taken from its hiding-place. Opening the note, he read the communication quickly, and, turning to me with a smile, exclaimed: "De Lalande, I certainly must keep you by my side! Positively, you always bring me good-luck. I am deeply in your debt, but my secretary shall settle our account. You must don the green scarf and join my body-guard." This was a great honour, and I thanked him warmly, but he interrupted me with a laugh, saying, "It is well, in these troublous times, to have a skilful sword to rely on, and I have proved the worth of yours. You will find your comrades brave youths and all anxious to distinguish themselves. _Pardieu!_ Conde has made a huge blunder and played into my hands nicely. Request M. Belloc to find you quarters--and now I must deal immediately with my correspondence." Thus it was that I came to take service again with Mazarin, and to wear the green scarf in many a hot encounter.