'Most of them do. And now, my good friend, let us dismiss Ravaillac and tell me how you progress.' For a moment it was in me to tell him all, to say that I had abandoned a worthless cause, and that I could do no more as I was leaving France at once. Mechanically I stretched out my hand towards the tags of ribbon on the table, and my fingers closed over them. What was I to say? I could not answer Palin. Through the now darkening room I could see his earnest features turned towards me for reply, and behind it there moved in the shadow the dim outline of a fair face set in a mass of chestnut hair, and the violet light from its eyes seemed to burn through my veins. My tongue was stilled, and I could say nothing. At length he spoke again. 'Do I gather from your silence that you have failed?' 'No--not so--but little or nothing could be done, as the King has only just come, and then----' I stopped. 'And then--what?' 'It seems that Madame has changed her mind.' 'I do not follow you. Do you know what you are saying?' His tone was coldly stern. My temper began to rise at this. I put down the ribbons and said: 'Yes, I think I do--or else why has Madame come to Paris, and what is this story I hear about a Monsieur de Gomeron? If that is true it ends the matter.' I got up as I spoke, and began to pace the room in my excitement. 'Had I been twenty years younger. Monsieur d'Auriac, I would have paraded you for what you have said; but my cloth and my age forbid it. My age, not because it has weakened my arm, but because it has taught me to think. My young friend, you are a fool.' 'I know I have been,' I said bitterly, 'but I shall be so no longer.' 'And, in saying so, confirm yourself in your folly. Are you so beside yourself that you condemn unheard! Sit down, man, and hear what I have to say. It will not keep you long. You can leave Paris five minutes after, if you like.' I came back to my seat, and Palin continued: 'You appear to be offended at Madame de la Bidache's coming to Paris?' 'I am not offended--I have no right to be.' 'Well, it will interest you to hear that her coming to Paris was forced. That practically we are prisoners.' 'You mean to say that he--the King--has gone as far as that!' 'I mean what I say--Madame cannot leave her hotel, except to go to the Louvre, without his permission.' 'But this is infamous!' 'In an almost similar case this was what the daughter of de C[oe]uvres said, and yet she died Duchesse de Beaufort. But are you satisfied now?' 'I am,' I said in a low tone, and then, with an effort, 'but there is still the other matter.' 'You are exacting--are you sure you have a right to ask that?' Luckily, it was too dark for Palin to see my eyes turn to the tangle of crushed ribbons on the table. How much did the Huguenot know? I could not tell, and after all I had no right to ask the question I had, and said so. 'I have no right, but, if it is true, it means that the affair is at an end.' 'If it is true?'