"
I know not what it was that impelled me to speak thus. Haply the wish that
since he must soon learn to what depths Gaston de Luynes had sunk, he
should at least learn it from my own lips at the outset.
He shuddered at my concluding words, and had not Andrea at that moment put
his arm affectionately upon my shoulder, and declared me the bravest fellow
and truest friend in all the world, it is possible that the Chevalier de
Canaples would have sought an excuse to be rid of me. Such men as he seek
not the acquaintance of such men as I.
To please Andrea was, however, of chief importance in his plans, and to
that motive I owe it that he pressed me to remain a guest at the ch?teau.
I declined the honour with the best grace I could command, determined that
whilst Andrea remained at Canaples I would lodge at the Lys de France in
Blois, independent and free to come or go as my fancy bade me. His
invitation that I should at least dine at Canaples I accepted; but with the
condition that he should repeat his invitation after he had heard something
that I wished to tell him. He assented with a puzzled look, and when
presently Andrea repaired to his apartments, and we were alone, I began.
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