"Sire," cried D'Epernon, furiously, "this man, one of your Forty-five Guardsmen, of which he shall soon cease to form part, being sent by me to watch M. de Mayenne, in Paris, followed him to Orleans, and received from him a letter for Madame de Montpensier." "You have received this letter?" asked the king of Ernanton. "Yes, sire, but M. d'Epernon does not tell you under what circumstances." "Well, where is this letter?" "That is just the cause of the quarrel, sire. M. de Carmainges resolutely refuses to give it to me, and determines to carry it to its address." Carmainges bent one knee before the king. "Sire," said he, "I am a poor gentleman, but a man of honor. I saved the life of your messenger, who was about to be assassinated by M. de Mayenne and six of his followers, for I arrived just in time to turn the fortune of the combat." "And M. de Mayenne?" "Was dangerously wounded." "Well, after?" "Your messenger, sire, who seemed to have a particular hatred of M. de Mayenne--" The king smiled. "Wished to kill his enemy; perhaps he had the right, but I thought that in my presence, whose sword belongs to your majesty, this vengeance became a political assassination, and--" "Go on, monsieur." "I saved the life of M. de Mayenne, as I had saved that of your messenger." D'Epernon shrugged his shoulders with a scornful smile. "Go on," said the king. "M. de Mayenne, reduced to one companion, for the four others were killed, did not wish to separate from him, and, ignorant that I belonged to your majesty, confided to me a letter to his sister. I have this letter, sire, and here it is; I offer it to your majesty who has the right to dispose of it and of me. My honor is dear to me, sire, but I place it fearlessly in your hands." Ernanton, so saying, held out the tablets to the king, who gently put them back. "What did you say, D'Epernon?" said he; "M. de Carmainges is an honest man and a faithful servant?" "What did I say, sire." "Yes; I heard you pronounce the word 'prison.' Mordieu! on the contrary, when one meets a man like M. de Carmainges, it is reward we should speak of. A letter, duke, belongs only to the bearer and to the person to whom it is sent. You will deliver your letter, M. de Carmainges." "But, sire," said D'Epernon, "think of what that letter may contain. Do not play at delicacy, when, perhaps, your majesty's life is concerned." "You will deliver your letter, M. de Carmainges," said the king. "Thanks, sire," said Carmainges, beginning to retire. "Where do you take it?" "To Madame la Duchesse de Montpensier, I believed I had had the honor of telling your majesty." "I mean, to the Hotel Guise, St. Denis, or where?" "I had no instructions on that subject, sire. I shall take the letter to the Hotel Guise, and there I shall learn where Madame de Montpensier is." "And when you have found her?" "I will deliver my letter."