"Go," said she, "and when you have brought me your proof, I will give you mine." Monsieur d'Épernon hastened from the room, and ran all the way back to Nanon. "Well," said she, "have you the request for the exchange of prisoners, my dear duke?" "Oh, yes! of course! it was an excellent time to speak of that," rejoined the duke; "the queen is in a tearing rage." "What is the cause of that?" "Because either you or I appointed Monsieur Richon governor of Vayres, and this same governor, who seems to have defended the place like a lion, killed five hundred of our men." "Monsieur Richon!" repeated Nanon; "I do not know that name." "The devil take me if I do." "Then tell the queen boldly that she is mistaken." "But are you sure that you are not mistaken?" "Wait a moment; I prefer to have no reason for self-reproach, so I will tell you." Nanon went to her study, and consulted her register at the letter R. It contained no memorandum of a commission issued to Richon. "You can go back to the queen," she said, returning, "and tell her fearlessly that she is in error." Monsieur d'Épernon did not pause to take breath between Nanon's house and the hôtel de ville. "Madame," said he, proudly, as he entered the queen's apartment, "I am innocent of the crime imputed to me. The appointment of Monsieur Richon was made by your Majesty's ministers." "In that case my ministers sign themselves D'Épernon," retorted the queen, dryly. "How so?" "It must be so, as that signature is written at the foot of Monsieur Richon's commission." "Impossible, madame!" rejoined the duke, in the hesitating tone of a man who begins to doubt himself. "Impossible?" said the queen, with a shrug. "Very good! read for yourself." And she took from the table a document upon which her hand was laid. Monsieur d'Épernon seized the commission, and ran it through eagerly, examining every fold of the paper, every word, every letter; a terrible thought came to his mind, and kept him rooted to his place. "May I see this Monsieur Richon?" he asked. "Nothing easier," replied the queen; "I ordered him to be detained in the adjoining room, in order to afford you that satisfaction. Bring in the villain," she added to the guards who were awaiting her orders at the door. In a moment Richon was led in, with his hands bound behind his back, and his hat on his head. The duke walked up to him, and fastened his eyes upon him in a piercing gaze, which he endured with his wonted dignity. One of his guards knocked his hat to the floor with the back of his hand; but this insult did not cause the slightest evidence of excitement on the part of the governor of Vayres. "Throw a cloak over his shoulders, put a mask on his face, and give me a lighted candle," said the duke. The first two orders were first obeyed. The queen looked on in amazement at these strange preparations.