Liar and
craven will I dub you throughout the whole of France."
He stopped 'neath the lintel, and faced me again.
"Fool," he sneered. "You'll need dispatch to spread my fame so far. By
this time to-morrow you'll be arrested. In three days you will be in the
Bastille, and there shall you lie until you rot to carrion."
"Loud threats again!" I laughed, hoping by the taunt to learn more.
"Loud perchance, but not empty. Learn that the Cardinal has knowledge of
your association with Mancini, and means to separate you. An officer of
the guards is on his way to Blois. He is at Meung by now. He bears a
warrant for your arrest and delivery to the governor of the Bastille.
Thereafter, none may say what will betide." And with a coarse burst of
laughter he left me, banging the door as he passed out.
For a moment I stood there stricken by his parting words. He had sought to
wound me, and in this he had succeeded. But at what cost to himself? In
his blind rage, the fool had shown me that which he should have zealously
concealed, and what to him was but a stinging threat was to me a timely
warning.
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