"Put up your swords, gentlemen," he said quietly, and as if quite sure that no one would question his right to command. Then, turning to De Retz he added in the same cool tones, "Monsieur l'Abbe, I am surprised you have not sufficient influence to prevent a breach of the peace! It ill becomes a dignitary of the Church to be taking part in a street brawl." I can hardly imagine that De Retz was awed by the speaker--perhaps he had private reasons for avoiding a quarrel with this strong, purposeful man: at least he showed no offence at the rebuke, and not only requested Henri to sheathe his sword, but actually offered a half apology for the quarrel, which really was none of his seeking. "One must always yield to the ladies!" he exclaimed gallantly, and, with a courteous bow to the stranger, ordered his coach to be turned back. "Who is he?" I asked Raoul, as the peacemaker, after scolding D'Arcy for his rudeness, and bidding him be less hasty in future, withdrew. "Matthew Mole, the first President, and the only honest public man in France," replied Raoul bitterly, as he resumed his place in the procession. The torch-bearers were not yet weary of their mischief, but the encounter with De Retz rendered them less demonstrative, and the remainder of the journey passed without incident. On arriving at the Rue Crillon, in order to keep up the character of the play, Armand marshalled his comrades in two lines, forming a kind of triumphal passage for Marie and her aunt. As soon as the ladies entered their house the escort dispersed, some going one way, some another, Raoul and I walked away together, and D'Arcy, still bubbling over with fun, accompanied us. "A nice evening's amusement," laughed the young scamp; "but what was it all about? _Ma foi_, Beauchamp, I shall have to look after you more carefully in the future, or you will be getting into further scrapes!" "Take care yourself," I suggested, "or De Retz will lay you by the heels. He won't be in a hurry to forgive this night's work." "Oh! the Abbe is a man of sense; he will laugh at the joke to-morrow, and accept his defeat gracefully. What a firebrand your cousin is! Did you notice his eyes flash? I thought he meant to make mincemeat of me! It is a pity you are always against him; he will take quite a dislike to you." "Peleton and Maubranne are more to be feared than Henri," said Raoul. "Each of them has several scores to settle with our friend." "And with you and D'Arcy!" "Yes, but we possess powerful patrons; you have none. If Peleton stabbed either of us in the back he would have to answer to the Duke of Orleans, but who is there to champion your quarrel? Come with us to the Luxembourg, and let us introduce you to the Duke. There is no dishonour in taking fresh service now that Mazarin has fled." "Still I intend to stand by the Cardinal!" "Bravo!" cried Armand; "never desert your colours! I wish, though, that you belonged to our side."