By heaven! If it was so, I would end it all at once, and not waste another moment of my life on a heartless coquette! It must be so. It was so. By this time I had got beyond power of reason, and jumped to my conclusions like the thrice blind fool I was. Snatching forth the bow from its resting place over my heart, I tore the ribbons asunder, and flung them on the floor before me, with a curse at the vanity of womankind that could make a plaything of a heart. I would be gone that moment. I would leave this country of intrigue and dishonour. In an hour I could catch Jacques up, and in ten days we would be on the seas, and in that New World, which had not yet time to grow wicked, make for myself a fresh life. By God! I would do it! My hand was on the bell-rope, when there came a sharp tap at the door, and the next moment Ravaillac announced in his low voice: 'Maitre Palin to wait on Monsieur le Chevalier.' I pulled myself together with an effort, and advanced to meet my old friend as he came in. 'At last! I have been expecting you hourly for some time.' 'I could not come, chevalier. I will explain in a moment.' 'First sit down. Take that chair there near the window; it commands a good view.' 'Monsieur does not need this?' It was Ravaillac's voice that broke in upon us, and he himself stood before me, holding out on a salver the ribbons of the torn bow. Civil as the question was, there was something in his tone that made me look at him sharply. It seemed to me, as I looked up, that a faint smile vanished between his bloodless lips like a spider slipping back into a crevice. I could, however, see no trace of impertinence in the long sallow face, and the whole attitude of my new follower was one of submissive respect. I fancied, therefore, that I had made a mistake, and put it down to the state of mental agitation I was in at the time. 'No,' I answered him; 'you can fling it away. And in future you need not ask me about such trifles.' 'Very well, monsieur, I will remember,' and with a bow he moved towards the door, the salver in his hand. 'Ravaillac,' I called out after him. 'Monsieur.' 'On second thoughts do not throw that away. I did not--I mean, please leave it there on the table.' 'Monsieur,' and, laying down the salver, he stepped out of the room. 'I see you have changed your livery with your old servant, chevalier,' said Palin, sipping at his wine, as the man went out, closing the door carefully and softly behind him. 'Not so. Jacques has merely gone away temporarily on some business of importance. In fact he left to-day, shortly before you came, and this man, or rather youth, has been lent to me by a friend.' 'And his name is Ravaillac?' 'Yes.' 'An uncommon name for a man of his class.' 'Perhaps--but these men assume all kinds of names. He is, however, better educated than the usual run of people in his position, and bears an excellent character, although he has been a Flagellant, from which complaint he has recovered.'