"What news, my lord?" the Major asked, in amazement, for he knew nothing. In fact, placed as he was at the extreme frontier of the kingdom, news, no matter its importance, only reached him, so to speak, by accident. "The Cardinal Minister is dead, sir. I have just learned it from a sure hand." "Oh!" said the Major, clasping his hands, for this death might cause him the loss of his place. "And," the Count added, coldly, "His Majesty King Louis XIII. is at death's door." "Great heaven, what a misfortune!" exclaimed the Governor. "This misfortune may be fortunate for you, sir," the Count resumed. "Fortunate! When I am menaced with the loss of my command! Alas, my lord, what will become of me if I am turned out of here?" "That might easily, happen," said the Count. "You have, sir, always been a great friend of the defunct Cardinal, and known as such." "That is, unhappily, too true," the Major muttered, quite out of countenance, and recognizing the truth of this affirmation. "There is, I think, an advantageous mode of arranging matters." "What is it, my lord? Speak, I implore you!" "It is this: listen to me carefully--what I am going to say is very serious for you." "I am listening, my lord." "Here is a letter all ready written for the Duc de Bellegarde. You will start at once for Paris, passing through Toulon, where you will cash this draft for 2000 livres, to cover your expenses. The Duke is sincerely attached to me. For my sake he will receive you kindly: you will come to an understanding with him, and obey him in everything he orders." "Yes, yes, my lord." "And if within a month from this time at the latest--" "From this time at the latest--" the Governor repeated, panting with impatience. "You bring me here my full and entire--pardon, signed by H. M. Louis XIII.--" "What?" the Governor exclaimed, with a start of surprise. "I will at once pay you," the Count continued, coldly, "the sum of 50,000 livres, to indemnify you for the loss my liberation must entail on you." "Fifty thousand livres!" the Major exclaimed, his eyes sparkling with greed. "Fifty thousand! yes, sir," the Count replied. "And, besides, I pledge myself, if you wish it, to get you confirmed in your command. Is this matter settled?" "But, my lord, how am I to manage at Paris?" "Follow the instructions the Duc de Bellegarde will give you." "What you ask of me is very difficult." "Not so difficult as you pretend to believe, sir; however, if this mission does not suit you--" "I did not say that, sir." "In a word, you can take it or leave it." "I take it, my lord--I take it. Great heaven!--fifty thousand livres!" "And you start?" "Tomorrow." "No, tonight." "Very good--tonight." "All right! Here are the letter and the draft. Oh! by the way, try to put yourself in communication with a fisherman at Antibes of the name of Michael." "I know him," the Major said, with a smile.