"
"My only warrant," I answered, somewhat baffled, but far from
abandoning hope, "is my word. You shall say to the Garde des Sceaux
that you have done this upon the authority of the Marquis de
Bardelys, and you have my promise that His Majesty shall confirm my
action."
In saying that I said too much, as I was quickly to realize.
"His Majesty will confirm it, monsieur?" he said interrogatively,
and he shook his head. "That is a risk I dare not run. My warrant
sets me under imperative obligations which I must discharge - you
will see the justice of what I state."
His tone was all humility, all subservience, nevertheless it was
firm to the point of being hard. But my last card, the card upon
which I was depending, was yet to be played.
"Will you do me the honour to step aside with me, Chevalier?" I
commanded rather than besought.
"At your service, sir," said he; and I drew him out of earshot of
those others.
"Now, Saint-Eustache, we can talk," said I, with an abrupt change
of manner from the coldly arrogant to the coldly menacing. "I
marvel greatly at your temerity in pursuing this Iscariot business
after learning who I am, at Toulouse two nights ago."
He clenched his hands, and his weak face hardened.
"I would beg you to consider your expressions, monsieur, and to
control them," said he in a thick voice.
I vouchsafed him a stare of freezing amazement. "You will no doubt
remember in what capacity I find you employed.
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