We reached Agen very late that evening, after groping our way through a by-road near the river, set with holes and willow-stools and frog-spawn--a place no better than a slough; so that after it the great fires and lights at the Blue Maid seemed like a glimpse of a new world, and in a twinkling put something of life and spirits into two at least of us. There was queer talk round the hearth here, of doings in Paris, of a stir against the Cardinal with the Queen-mother at bottom, and of grounded expectations that something might this time come of it. But the landlord pooh-poohed the idea; and I more than agreed with him. Even M. de Cocheforet, who was at first inclined to build on it, gave up hope when he heard that it came only by way of Montauban; whence--since its reduction the year before--all sort of CANARDS against the Cardinal were always on the wing. ‘They kill him about once a month,’ our host said with a grin. ‘Sometimes it is MONSIEUR is to prove a match for him, sometimes CESAR MONSIEUR--the Duke of Vendome, you understand--and sometimes the Queen-mother. But since M. de Chalais and the Marshal made a mess of it and paid forfeit, I pin my faith to his Eminence--that is his new title, they tell me.’ ‘Things are quiet round here?’ I asked. ‘Perfectly. Since the Languedoc business came to an end, all goes well,’ he answered. Mademoiselle had retired on our arrival, so that her brother and I were for an hour or two this evening thrown together. I left him at liberty to separate himself from me if he pleased, but he did not use the opportunity. A kind of comradeship, rendered piquant by our peculiar relations, had begun to spring up between us. He seemed to take an odd pleasure in my company, more than once rallied me on my post of jailor, would ask humorously if he might do this or that; and once even inquired what I should do if he broke his parole. ‘Or take it this way,’ he continued flippantly, ‘Suppose I had struck you in the back this evening in that cursed swamp by the river, M. de Berault? What then! PARDIEU, I am astonished at myself that I did not do it. I could have been in Montauban within twenty-four hours, and found fifty hiding-places and no one the wiser.’ ‘Except your sister,’ I said quietly. He made a wry face. ‘Yes,’ he said, ‘I am afraid that I must have stabbed her too, to preserve my self-respect. You are right.’ And he fell into a reverie which held him for a few minutes. Then I found him looking at me with a kind of frank perplexity that invited question. ‘What is it?’ I said. ‘You have fought a great many duels?’ ‘Yes,’ I said. ‘Did you ever strike a foul blow in one?’ ‘Never,’ I answered. ‘Why do you ask?’ ‘Well, because I--wanted to confirm an impression. To be frank, M. de Berault, I seem to see in you two men. ‘Two men?’ ‘Yes, two men. One, the man who captured me; the other, the man who let my friend go free to-day.’