"
"Why do you tell me all this, Monsieur?" I inquired coldly, betraying none
of the amazement his last words gave birth to.
"So that you may know the true position of affairs, and, knowing it, see
the course which the name you bear must bid you follow. Because Canaples
failed am I here to-day. I had not counted upon meeting you, but since I
have met you, I have set the truth before you, confident that you will now
withdraw from an affair to which no real interest can bind you, leaving
matters to pursue their course."
He eyed me, methought, almost anxiously from under his brows, as he awaited
my reply. It was briefer than he looked for.
"You have wasted time, Monsieur."
"How? You persist?"
"Yes. I persist. Yet for the Cardinal I care nothing. Mazarin has
dismissed me from his service unjustly and unpaid. He has forbidden me his
nephew's company. In fact, did he know of my presence here with M. de
Mancini, he would probably carry out his threat to hang me."
"Ciel!" cried St. Auban, "you are mad, if that be so. France is divided
into two parties, cardinalists and anti-cardinalists.
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