Henri started; the observation seemed to him in some way connected with the profound and absorbing interest with which the story inspired him; to him, too, who had seen Diana and her companion confided to Aurilly, the idea occurred that the two travelers who had announced to the prince the death of the unfortunate lute-player were acquaintances of his own. Henri looked attentively at the ensign. "And when you fancied you recognized this man, what was the idea that occurred to you, monsieur?" he inquired. "I will tell you what my impression was," replied the ensign; "however, I will not pretend to assert anything positively; the prince has not, in all probability, abandoned all idea with regard to Flanders; he therefore maintains spies in his employ. The man with the woolen overcoat is a spy, who, on his way here, may possibly have learned the accident which had happened to the musician, and may thus have been the bearer of two pieces of intelligence at the same time." "That is not improbable," said Henri, thoughtfully; "but what was this man doing when you saw him?" "He was walking beside the hedge which borders the parterre--you can see the hedge from your windows--and was making toward the conservatories." "You say, then, that the two travelers, for I believe you stated there were two--" "Others say that two persons were seen to enter, but I only saw one, the man in the overcoat." "In that case, then, you have reason to believe that the man in the overcoat, as you describe him, is living in the conservatories." "It is not unlikely." "And have these conservatories a means of exit?" "Yes, count, toward the town." Henri remained silent for some time; his heart was throbbing most violently, for these details, which were apparently matters of indifference to him, who seemed throughout the whole of this mystery as if he were gifted with the power of prevision, were, in reality, full of the deepest interest for him. Night had in the meantime closed in, and the two young men were conversing together without any light in Joyeuse's apartment. Fatigued by his journey, oppressed by the strange events which had just been related to him, unable to struggle against the emotions which they had aroused in his breast, the count had thrown himself on his brother's bed, and mechanically directed his gaze toward the deep blue heavens above him, which seemed set as with diamonds. The young ensign was seated on the ledge of the window, and voluntarily abandoned himself to that listlessness of thought, to that poetic reverie of youth, to that absorbing languor of feeling, which the balmy freshness of evening inspires. A deep silence reigned throughout the park and the town; the gates were closed, the lights were kindled by degrees, the dogs in the distance were barking in their kennels at the servants, on whom devolved the duty of shutting up the stables in the evening.