"Good luck," cried D'Arcy softly, as I crossed the road to the astrologer's house. For a moment, as my companions disappeared, my courage failed. I was bound on a really desperate venture, and the first false slip might land me in a dungeon of the dreaded Bastille. Suppose that Mazarin, having learned of the plot, had filled the house with his Guards? Once I raised my hand and dropped it, but the second time I knocked at the door, which, after some delay, was opened wide enough to admit the passage of a man's body. The entry was quite dark, but I pushed in quickly, nerving myself for whatever might happen. At the same moment sounds of firing came from the street, and I heard the man Peleton exclaim, "Fly! We are betrayed!" I turned to the door, but some one was already shooting the bolts, while a second person, pressing a pistol against my head, exclaimed roughly, "Don't move till we have a light. The floor is uneven, and you might hurt yourself by falling." "You can put down that weapon," I said. "I am not likely to run away, especially as I have come of my own free will to see your master's visitor." The fellow laughed, and lowered his pistol. "You will see him soon enough," said he, and I judged by his tone that he did not think the interview would be a pleasant one. Another man now arriving with a lantern, I was led to the end of the passage, up three steps, and so into a large room, sparsely furnished, but filled with soldiers. Truly the Abbe was well advised in withdrawing from the conspiracy. "_Peste!_" exclaimed the officer in charge, "why, 'tis De Lalande himself, only the peacock has put on daw's feathers. Well, my friend, you have sent your goods to sea in a leaky boat this time." He took a step towards me, and then stopped in astonishment. "What mystery is this?" he cried. "Are you not Henri de Lalande? But, no, I see the difference now. Ah, Henri is a clever fellow after all; I thought he would not trust himself on this fool's errand. But you are marvellously like him. Well, well; whoever you are, the Cardinal is anxious to see you." "I came on purpose to speak to him. Had I known he was so well prepared to receive visitors I might have spared myself a troublesome journey." "And deprived His Eminence of a great pleasure! Unbuckle your sword, and place your pistols on the table. The Cardinal is a man of peace, and likes not martial weapons." To resist was useless; so I surrendered sword and pistols, which the officer handed to one of his men. "Now," he said, "as you are so anxious to meet the Cardinal, I will take you to him at once. This way." We toiled up a narrow, steep, and dimly-lighted staircase, at the top of which a soldier stood on guard, while another paced to and fro along the narrow landing. Both these men, as well as those in the lower part of the house, wore the Cardinal's livery.