"You have returned, I see," said Chavigni. "Have you found an occasion of fulfilling my orders?" "To your heart's content, Monseigneur," replied the Norman; "never was such an Astrologer, since the days of Intrim of Blois." "Hush!" said Chavigni, for the other spoke aloud. "If you have done it, that is enough. But for a time, keep yourself to Paris, and avoid the Court, as some one may recognise you, even in these fine new feathers." "Oh, I defy them," replied the Norman, in a lower tone than he had formerly spoken, but still so loud that De Blenau could not avoid hearing the greater part of what he said--"I defy them; for I was so wrapped up in my black robes and my white beard, that the Devil himself would not know me for the same mortal in the two costumes. But I hope, Monsieur le Comte, that my reward may be equal to the risk I have run, for they sought to stop me, and had I not been too good a necromancer for them, I suppose I should have been roasting at a stake by this time. But one wave of my magic wand sent the sword of Monsieur de Cinq Mars out of his hand, and opened me a passage to the wood; otherwise I should have fared but badly amongst them." "You must not exact too much, Monsieur Marteville," replied Chavigni. "But we will speak of this to-night. I shall be in Paris in a few hours; at present, you see, I am occupied;" and leaving the Norman, he rejoined De Blenau, and proceeded in search of the Queen. "If my memory serves me right, Monsieur de Chavigni," said De Blenau, in a tone of some bitterness, "I have seen that gentleman before, and with his sword shining at my breast." "It is very possible," answered Chavigni, with the most indifferent calmness. "I have seen him in the same situation with respect to myself." "Indeed!" rejoined De Blenau, with some surprise; "but probably not with the same intention," he added. "I do not know," replied the Statesman, with a smile. "His intentions in my favour were to run me through the body." "And is it possible, then," exclaimed De Blenau, "that with such a knowledge of his character and habits, you can employ and patronize him?" "Certainly," answered Chavigni, "I wanted a bold villain. Such men are very necessary in a State. Now, I could not have better proof that this man had the qualities required, than his attempting to cut my throat. But you do him some injustice; he is better than you suppose--is not without feeling--and has his own ideas of honour." De Blenau checked the bitter reply which was rising to his lips, and letting the conversation drop, they proceeded, in silence, in search of the Queen. They had not gone much farther, when they perceived her leaning familiarly on the arm of Madame de Beaumont, and seemingly occupied in some conversation of deep interest. However, her eye fell upon the Count and Chavigni as they came up, and, surprised to see them together, she abruptly paused in what she was saying.