Page 18 (2/2)

with C St L"

As he read it for the fourth tiht of the lamp fell athwart his

face; and even as his fine clothes had never seemed to fit hiallantry launched at him by

Nancay, so his features had never looked less handsolow of vanity which ware, the

smile of conceit which wreathed his lips, bespoke a nature not of the

most noble; or the lamp did him less than justice Presently he kissed

the note, and hid it He waited until the clock of St Jacques struck

the hour before ht

by way of the narrow neck leading to the Rue Lombard He walked in the

kennel here, his sword in his hand and his eyes looking to right and

left; for the place was notorious for robberies But though he sawin a doorway or under the arch that led to a

passage, it vanished on his nearer approach In less than a minute he

reached the southern end of the street that bore the odd title of the

Five Diamonds