"Yes, exactly," said Louise, "word for word; and the Queen answered, 'I understand you.' But I cannot think why you are so curious about it." "Because I take an interest in the young Count," replied Chavigni. "But, his heart must be very hard if it can resist such eyes as yours." "He never saw them," said Louise, "for I was not with my Lady when they picked him up wounded in the forest." "So much the better," replied Chavigni, "for that is he turning that angle of the Palace: I must speak to him; so farewell, _belle Louise_, and remember the signal.--Go through that door, and he will not see you." Speaking thus, Chavigni left her, and a few steps brought him up to De Blenau, who at that moment traversed the angle in which he had been standing with Louise, and was hurrying on with a rapid pace in search of the Queen. "Good morrow, Monsieur de Blenau," said Chavigni: "you seem in haste." "And am so, Sir," replied De Blenau proudly; and added, after a moment's pause, "Have you any commands for me?" for Chavigni stood directly in his way. "None in particular," answered the other with perfect composure--"only if you are seeking the Queen, I will go with you to her Majesty; and as we go, I will tell you a piece of news you may perhaps like to hear." "Sir Count de Chavigni, I beg you would mark me," replied De Blenau. "You are one of the King's Council--a gentleman of good repute, and so forth; but there is not that love between us that we should be seen taking our evening's walk together, unless, indeed, it were for the purpose of using our weapons more than our tongues." "Indeed, Monsieur de Blenau," rejoined Chavigni, his lip curling into a smile which partook more of good humour than scorn, though, perhaps, mingled somewhat of each--"indeed you do not do me justice; I love you better than you know, and may have an opportunity of doing you a good turn some day, whether you will or not. So with your leave I walk with you, for we both seek the Queen." De Blenau was provoked. "Must I tell you, Sir," exclaimed he, "that your company is disagreeable to me?--that I do not like the society of men who herd with robbers and assassins?" "Psha!" exclaimed Chavigni, somewhat peevishly. "Captious boy, you'll get yourself into the Bastille some day, where you would have been long ago, had it not been for me." "When you tell me, Sir, how such obligations have been incurred," answered the Count, "I shall be happy to acknowledge them." "Why, twenty times, Monsieur de Blenau, you have nearly been put there," replied Chavigni, with that air of candour which it is very difficult to affect when it is not genuine. "Your hot and boiling spirit, Sir, is always running you into danger. Notwithstanding all your late wounds, a little bleeding, even now, would not do you any harm. Here the first thing you do is to quarrel with a man who has served you, is disposed to serve you, and of whose service you may stand in need within five minutes.