"I am no assassin!" I shouted, struggling in their grasp. "Let me go, villains, let me go! I tell you, Monsieur's life is at stake--Monsieur's very life, I tell you!" They paid me no heed. Not one of them--save hat lying knave Constant--knew me as other than the shabby fellow who had acted suspiciously in the morning. They were dragging me to the door in spite of my shouts and struggles, when suddenly a ringing voice spoke from above: "What is this rumpus? Who talks of Monsieur's life?" The guards halted dead, and I cried out joyfully: "Vigo!" "Yes, I am Vigo," the big man answered, striding down the stairs. "Who are you?" I wanted to shout, "Félix Broux, Monsieur's page," but a sort of nightmare dread came over me lest Vigo, too, should disclaim me, and my voice stuck in my throat. "Whoever you are, you will be taught not to make a racket in M. le Duc's hall. By the saints! it's the boy Félix." At the friendliness in his voice the guards dropped their hands from me. "M. Vigo," I said, "I have news for Monsieur of the gravest moment. I am come on a matter of life and death. And I am stopped in the hall by lackeys." He looked at me sternly. "This is not one of your fooleries, Félix?" "No, M. Vigo." "Come with me." VII _A divided duty._ That was Vigo's way. The toughest snarl untangled at his touch. He had more sense and fewer airs than any other, he saw at once that I was in earnest; and Constant's voluble protests were as so much wind. The title does not make the man. Though Constant was Master of the Household and Vigo only Equery, yet Vigo ruled every corner of the establishment and every man in it, save only Monsieur, who ruled him. He said no word to me as we climbed the broad stair; neither reproved me for the fracas nor questioned me about my coming. He would not pry into Monsieur's business; and, save as I concerned Monsieur, he had no interest in me whatsoever. He led the way straight into an antechamber, where a page sprang up to bar our passage. "No one may enter, M. Vigo, not even you. M. le Duc has ordered it. Why, Félix! You in Paris!" "I enter," said Vigo; and, sweeping Marcel aside, he knocked loudly. "I came last night," I found time to say under my breath to my old comrade before the door was opened. The handsome secretary whom I had taken for the count stood in the doorway looking askance at us. He knew me at once and wondered. "You cannot enter, Vigo. M. le Duc is occupied." He made to shut the door, but Vigo's foot was over the sill. "Natheless, I must enter," he answered unabashed and pushed his way into the room. "Then you must answer for it," returned the secretary, with a scowl that sat ill on his delicate face. "_You_ shall answer for it if it turns out a mare's nest," said Vigo, in a low, meaning voice to me. But I hardly heard him. I passed him and Lucas, and flew down the long room to Monsieur.