"There may be, or not. I only know that I am pledged to assist him, and that the De Lalandes have been taught to keep their word." "Quite right!" returned Henri, gaily. "Well, adieu, my faithful cousin! Your constancy is touching, and I hope it may bring you good fortune, but of that I am doubtful," and, with a careless laugh, he hurried on. "Planning some fresh mischief!" I muttered, and dismissed the incident from my mind. Nearly a week had now passed since the receipt of the mysterious note, and nothing of consequence had happened. Every day I went into the streets without disguise or attempt at concealment, and no one paid any attention to my doings. About this time the city was considerably agitated, and filled with all sorts of conflicting rumours. Among other things it was hinted that Mazarin, having re-entered France, was marching at the head of a foreign army on Paris, with the avowed object of razing it to the ground. De Retz, laughing in his sleeve, went about attended by a numerous and well-armed retinue to protect him from being murdered; Conde followed his example, and the _petits maitres_ swaggered more than ever, especially when they met the friends of De Retz; at the Hotel Vendome, the Duke of Beaufort stayed in bed, having, according to rumour, been poisoned; while Gaston of Orleans was popularly supposed to have joined four separate plots in one day, and betrayed them all to the Queen before night. Thus far, however, nothing serious had resulted from these wonderful doings, and I was chiefly concerned with my own private affairs. "It seems to me," I said to Raoul one night, as we walked together toward the Rue Crillon, "that we have been making a mountain out of a mole-hill. More than a week has passed now since the warning, and I am none the worse." "Yet the spy still keeps watch?" "He was there last night, but I could not get near him. Perhaps you may have better luck." The man was in his usual place, and I pointed him out to Raoul, whispering, "That is he. Are you acquainted with him?" "No. He belongs to the class that either De Retz or Conde can buy by the dozen. Don't look that way. Let us cross the road. I will slip through this alley and enter the street at the other end; then we shall have him between us." Unfortunately for our purpose the fellow was particularly wide-awake, and as Raoul appeared at the corner he moved away. Following cautiously, we kept him in sight for a good distance, but finally he disappeared in a maze of alleys. "_Peste!_" exclaimed my comrade, discontentedly, "he is an artful rascal. If we could catch him he might be able to tell us all we want to learn. There must be some reason for his actions. Is he always alone?" "Always." "We must set a trap for him." "Let me try once more by myself. I dislike the idea of being beaten by a spy."