"
"How knew you I should ride this way?"
"I learnt that you would visit Canaples before noon. Be good enough to
quit the road, and pass under those trees with me. I have something to say
to you, but it were not well that we should be seen together."
"For the sake of your character or mine, M. Malappris?"
"Malpertuis!" he snapped.
"Malpertuis," I corrected. "You were saying that we should not be seen
together."
"St. Auban might hear of it."
"Ah! And therefore?"
"You shall learn." We were now under the trees, which albeit leafless yet
screened us partly from the road. He drew rein, and I followed his
example.
"M. de Luynes," he began, "I am or was a member of the cabal formed against
Mazarin's aims in the matter of the marriage of Mademoiselle de Canaples to
his nephew. I joined hands with St. Auban, lured by his protestations that
it is not meet that such an heiress as Yvonne de Canaples should be forced
to marry a foreigner of no birth and less distinction, whilst France holds
so many noble suitors to her hand. This motive, by which I know that even
Eug?ne de Canaples was actuated, was, St.
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