We spoke of his cousin - Castelroux and I - and I went so far now
as to confess that I had some love for the youth, whom I praised in
unmistakable terms. This inclined to increase the friendliness
which my young Captain had manifested since my arrest, and I was
presently emboldened by it to beg of him to add to the many favours
that I already owed him by returning to me the portrait which his
men had subtracted from my pocket. It was my wish to return this
to Marsac, whilst at the same time it would afford corroboration of
my story.
To this Castelroux made no difficulty.
"Why, yes," said he, and he produced it. "I crave your pardon for
not having done the thing of my own accord. What can the Keeper of
the Seals want with that picture?"
I thanked him, and pocketed the locket.
"Poor lady!" he sighed, a note of compassion in his voice. "By my
soul, Monsieur de Lesperon, fine work this for soldiers, is it not?
Diable! It is enough to turn a gentleman's stomach sour for life,
and make him go hide himself from the eyes of honest men. Had I
known that soldiering meant such business, I had thought twice
before I adopted it as a career for a man of honour. I had remained
in Gascony and tilled the earth sooner than have lent myself to this!"
"My good young friend," I laughed, "what you do, you do in the King's
name."
"So does every tipstaff," he answered impatiently, his moustaches
bristling as the result of the scornful twist he gave his lips.
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