"Well then, Sir," answered Chavigni, with somewhat more of coldness in his manner, "I must tell you, his Eminence has sent for you, and that, perhaps, in a way which may not suit the pride of your disposition. Do you see those three men that are coming down the avenue? they are not here without an object.--Come, once more, what say you, Monsieur le Comte? Go with me, to take leave of the Queen, for I must suffer no private conversation. Let us then mount our horses, and ride as friends to Paris. There, pay your respects to the Cardinal, and take Chavigni's word, that, unless you suffer the heat of your temper to betray you into any thing unbecoming, you shall return safe to St. Germain's before to-morrow evening. If not, things must take their course." "You offer me fair, Sir," replied the Count, "if I understand you rightly, that the Cardinal has sent to arrest me; and of course, I cannot hesitate to accept your proposal. I have no particular partiality for the Bastille, I can assure you." "Then you consent?" said Chavigni. De Blenau bowed his head. "Well then, I will speak to these gentlemen," he added, "and they will give us their room." By this time the three persons, who had continued to advance down the avenue, had approached within the distance of a few paces of Chavigni and the Count. Two of them were dressed in the uniform of the Cardinal's guard; one as a simple trooper, the other being the Lieutenant who bore the _lettre de cachet_ for the arrest of De Blenau. The third, we have had some occasion to notice in the wood of Mantes, being no other than the tall Norman, who on that occasion was found in a rusty buff jerkin, consorting with the banditti. His appearance, however, was now very much changed for the better. The neat trimming of his beard and mustaches, the smart turn of his broad beaver, the flush newness of his long-waisted blue silk vest, and even the hanging of his sword, which instead of offering its hilt on the left hip, ever ready for the hand, now swung far behind, with the tip of the scabbard striking against the right calf,--all denoted a change of trade and circumstances, from the poor bravo who won his daily meal at the sword's point, to the well-paid bully, who fattened at his lord's second table, on the merit of services more real than apparent. De Blenau's eye fixed full upon the Norman, certain that he had seen him somewhere before, but the change of dress and circumstances embarrassed his recollection. In the mean while, Chavigni advanced to the Cardinal's officer. "Monsieur Chauville," said he, "favour me by preceding me to his Eminence of Richelieu. Offer him my salutation, and inform him, that Monsieur le Comte de Blenau and myself intend to wait upon him this afternoon." Chauville bowed, and passed on, while the Norman, uncovering his head to Chavigni, instantly brought back to the mind of De Blenau the circumstances under which he had first seen him.