"Because, monseigneur, hatred is a passion, and devotion often only a weakness; but if you will descend from the height of philosophy and deign to a simple act, namely, to give me two signatures--" "What signatures?" asked the regent. "First, there is a captain to be made a major." "Captain la Jonquiere?" "Oh, no; as to him, we'll hang him when we have done with him; but meanwhile, we must treat him with care." "Who, then, is this captain?" "A brave officer whom monseigneur eight days, or rather eight nights ago, met in a house in the Rue St. Honoré." "What do you mean?" "Ah, I see I must aid your memory a little, monseigneur, since you have such a bad one." "Speak, one can never get at the truth with you." "In two words, eight nights ago you went out disguised as a musketeer through the little door in the Rue Richelieu, accompanied by Nocé and Simiane." "It is true; what passed in the Rue St. Honore?" "Do you wish to know, monseigneur?" "I do." "I can refuse you nothing." "Speak, then." "You supped at the house--that house, monseigneur." "Still with Nocé and Simiane?" "No, monseigneur, tete-à-tete. Nocé and Simiane supped too, but separately. You supped, then, and were at table, when a brave officer, who probably mistook the door, knocked so obstinately at yours, that you became impatient, and handled the unfortunate who disturbed you somewhat roughly, but he, who, it seems, was not of an enduring nature, took out his sword, whereupon you, monseigneur, who never look twice before committing a folly, drew your rapier and tried your skill with the officer." "And the result?" asked the regent. "Was, that you got a scratch on the shoulder, in return for which you bestowed on your adversary a sword-thrust in the breast." "But it was not dangerous?" asked the regent, anxiously. "No; fortunately the blade glided along the ribs." "So much the better." "But that is not all." "How?" "It appears that you owed the officer a special grudge." "I had never seen him." "Princes strike from a distance." "What do you mean?" "This officer had been a captain for eight years, when, on your highness's coming into power, he was dismissed." "Then I suppose he deserved it." "Ah, monseigneur, you would make us out as infallible as the pope!" "He must have committed some cowardly act." "He is one of the bravest officers in the service." "Some infamous act then?" "He is the most honest fellow breathing." "Then this is an injustice to be repaired." "Exactly; and that is why I prepared this major's brevet." "Give it to me, Dubois, you have some good in you sometimes." A diabolical smile passed over Dubois's face as he drew from his portfolio a second paper. The regent watched him uneasily. "What is that paper?" asked he. "Monseigneur, you have repaired an act of injustice, now do an act of justice."