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"I would subht to it by the incoes and the ill-will of others whoreat a confidence, rather than by this same disobedience of mine"

"The one and the other, perhaps," he said h, after all, they appear to have had a very keen nose for a traitor Come, Bardelys, confess yourself that"

"I? A traitor?"

He shrugged his shoulders, and laughed without any conspicuous mirth

"Is not a traitor one who runs counter to the wishes; of his King? And are you not, therefore, a traitor, whether they call you Lesperon or Bardelys? But there," he endedhimself into a chair as he spoke, "I have been so wearied since you left me, Marcel They have the best intentions in the world, these dullards, and some of them love me even; but they are tiresome all Even Chatellerault, when he has a fancy for a jest--as in your case perpetrates it with the grace of a bear, the sprightliness of an elephant"

"Jest?" said I

"You find it no jest, Marcel? Pardieu, who shall blame you? He would be a man of unhealthy hu sentenced to death But tell me of it The whole story, Marcel I have not heard a story worth the listening to since--since you left us"

"Would it please you, Sire, to send for the Coin?" I asked

"Chatellerault? No, no" He shook his head whih already, and, like the ill- he is, he has kept it to himself I think, Marcel, that it is our turn now I have purposely sent Chatellerault away that hehim in return"

The words set me in the very best of humours, and to that it may be due that presently, as I warour that drew His Majesty out of his wonted apathy and listlessness He leaned forhen I told hioons at Mirepoix, and how first I had co ed by his interest, I proceeded, and I toldonly those slight ht reflect upon Monsieur de Lavedan's loyalty, but otherwise dealing frankly with His Majesty, even down to the genuineness of the feelings I entertained for Roxalanne Often he laughed,and sympathy, whilst now and then he purred his applause But towards the end, when I came to the matter of the Tribunal of Toulouse, of how my trial was conducted, and of the part played in it by Chatellerault, his face grew set and hard