Quentin he had suffered much from us pages, as a slow, peevish old dotard must. I had played many a prank on him, but I had not thought he would revenge himself at such time as this. He looked at me with a spiteful grin, and said to the men:
"He lies. I do not know him. I never saw him."
"Never saw me, Felix Broux!" I cried, completely taken aback.
"No," maintained Constant. "You are an impostor."
"Impostor! Nonsense!" I cried out. "Constant, you know me as well as you know yourself. I say I must see the duke; his life is in danger!"
Constant was paying off old scores with interest.
"An impostor," he yelled shrilly, "or else a madman--or an a.s.sa.s.sin."
"That is the truth," said some one, laying a heavy hand on my shoulder.
I turned; two men of the guard had come up, my friend of just now and my foe of the morning. It was the latter who held me and said:
"This is the very rascal who sprang on Monsieur"s coach-step in the morning. M. Lucas threw him off, else he might have stabbed Monsieur. We were fools enough to let him go free. But this time he shall not get off so easy."
"I am innocent of all thought of harm," I cried. "I am M. le Duc"s loyal servant. I meant no harm this morning, and I mean none now. I am here to save Monsieur"s life."
"He is here to kill Monsieur; he is an a.s.sa.s.sin!" screamed Constant.
"Flog him, men; he will own the truth then!"
"I am no a.s.sa.s.sin!" I shouted, struggling in their grasp. "Let me go, villains, let me go! I tell you, Monsieur"s life is at stake--Monsieur"s very life, I tell you!"
They paid me no heed. Not one of them--save hat lying knave Constant--knew me as other than the shabby fellow who had acted suspiciously in the morning. They were dragging me to the door in spite of my shouts and struggles, when suddenly a ringing voice spoke from above:
"What is this rumpus? Who talks of Monsieur"s life?"
The guards halted dead, and I cried out joyfully:
"Vigo!"
"Yes, I am Vigo," the big man answered, striding down the stairs. "Who are you?"
I wanted to shout, "Felix Broux, Monsieur"s page," but a sort of nightmare dread came over me lest Vigo, too, should disclaim me, and my voice stuck in my throat.
"Whoever you are, you will be taught not to make a racket in M. le Duc"s hall. By the saints! it"s the boy Felix."
At the friendliness in his voice the guards dropped their hands from me.
"M. Vigo," I said, "I have news for Monsieur of the gravest moment. I am come on a matter of life and death. And I am stopped in the hall by lackeys."
He looked at me sternly.
"This is not one of your fooleries, Felix?"
"No, M. Vigo."
"Come with me."
VII
_A divided duty._
That was Vigo"s way. The toughest snarl untangled at his touch. He had more sense and fewer airs than any other, he saw at once that I was in earnest; and Constant"s voluble protests were as so much wind. The t.i.tle does not make the man. Though Constant was Master of the Household and Vigo only Equery, yet Vigo ruled every corner of the establishment and every man in it, save only Monsieur, who ruled him.
He said no word to me as we climbed the broad stair; neither reproved me for the fracas nor questioned me about my coming. He would not pry into Monsieur"s business; and, save as I concerned Monsieur, he had no interest in me whatsoever. He led the way straight into an antechamber, where a page sprang up to bar our pa.s.sage.
"No one may enter, M. Vigo, not even you. M. le Duc has ordered it. Why, Felix! You in Paris!"
"I enter," said Vigo; and, sweeping Marcel aside, he knocked loudly.
"I came last night," I found time to say under my breath to my old comrade before the door was opened.
The handsome secretary whom I had taken for the count stood in the doorway looking askance at us. He knew me at once and wondered.
"You cannot enter, Vigo. M. le Duc is occupied."
He made to shut the door, but Vigo"s foot was over the sill.
"Natheless, I must enter," he answered unabashed and pushed his way into the room.
"Then you must answer for it," returned the secretary, with a scowl that sat ill on his delicate face.
"_You_ shall answer for it if it turns out a mare"s nest," said Vigo, in a low, meaning voice to me. But I hardly heard him. I pa.s.sed him and Lucas, and flew down the long room to Monsieur.
M. le Duc was seated before a table heaped with papers. He had been watching the scene at the door in surprise and anger. He looked at me with a sharp frown, while the deer-hound at his feet rose on its haunches growling.
"Roland!" I said. The dog sprang up and came to me.
"Felix Broux!" Monsieur exclaimed, with his quick, warm smile--a smile no man in France could match for radiance.
I had no thought of kneeling, of making obeisance, of waiting permission to speak.
"Monsieur," I cried, half choked, "there is a plot--a vile plot to murder you!"
"Where? At St. Quentin?"
"No, Monsieur. Here in Paris. In the streets to-night, when you go to the king."
Monsieur sprang to his feet, his hand on his sword. Lucas turned white.
Vigo swore. Monsieur cried: