Fate willed, however, that I should
be restored to life, and so soon as I had recovered sufficient strength to
undertake the journey to Paris, I set out. I arrived an hour ago, and here
I am, to redeem my word of honour, and surrender the sword and liberty
which you but lent me."
I placed my rapier on the table and waited for him to speak. Instead,
however, he continued to stare at me for some moments, and when at last he
did break the silence, it was to burst into a laugh that poured from his
throat in rich, mellow peals, as he lay back in his chair.
My wrath arose. Had I travelled from Blois, and done what I deemed the
most honourable deed of my life, to be laughed at for my pains by a foppish
young jackanapes of his Eminence's guards? Something of my displeasure
must he have seen reflected on my face, for of a sudden he checked his
mirth.
"Forgive me, M. de Luynes," he gasped. "Pardieu, 't is no matter for
laughter, and albeit I laughed with more zest than courtesy, I give you my
word that my admiration for you vastly exceeds my amusement. M. de
Luynes," he added, rising and holding out his hand to me, "there are liars
in Paris who give you an evil name--men who laughed at me when they heard
that I had given you leave to go on parole to St.
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