Under the Red Robe

UNDER THE RED ROBE
by
STANLEY J. WEYMAN
*
CONTENTS
* CHAPTER I. AT ZATON'S
* CHAPTER II. AT THE GREEN PILLAR
* CHAPTER III. THE HOUSE IN THE WOOD
* CHAPTER IV. MADAM AND MADEMOISELLE
* CHAPTER V. REVENGE
* CHAPTER VI. UNDER THE PlC DU MIDI
* CHAPTER VII. A MASTER STROKE
* CHAPTER VIII. A MASTER STROKE--Continued
* CHAPTER IX. THE QUESTION
* CHAPTER X. CLON
* CHAPTER XI. THE ARREST
* CHAPTER XII. THE ROAD TO PARIS
* CHAPTER XIII. AT THE FINGER-POST

* CHAPTER XIV. ST MARTIN'S EVE
* CHAPTER XV. ST MARTIN'S SUMMER
*
UNDER THE RED ROBE
CHAPTER I
AT ZATON'S
'Marked cards!'
There were a score round us when the fool, little knowing the man with
whom he had to deal, and as little how to lose like a gentleman, flung
the words in my teeth. He thought, I'll be sworn, that I should storm
and swear and ruffle it like any common cock of the hackle. But that
was never Gil de Berault's way. For a few seconds after he had spoken
I did not even look at him. I passed my eye instead--smiling, BIEN
ENTENDU--round the ring of waiting faces, saw that there was no one
except De Pombal I had cause to fear; and then at last I rose and looked
at the fool with the grim face I have known impose on older and wiser
men.
'Marked cards, M. l'Anglais?' I said, with a chilling sneer. 'They are
used, I am told, to trap players--not unbirched schoolboys.'
'Yet I say that they are marked!' he replied hotly, in his queer foreign
jargon. 'In my last hand I had nothing. You doubled the stakes. Bah, sir,
you knew! You have swindled me!'
'Monsieur is easy to swindle--when he plays with a mirror behind him,'
I answered tartly.
At that there was a great roar of laughter, which might have been heard
in the street, and which brought to the table everyone in the
eating-house whom his voice had not already attracted. But I did not

relax my face. I waited until all was quiet again, and then waving aside
two or three who stood between us and the entrance, I pointed gravely
to the door.
'There is a little space behind the church of St Jacques, M. l'Etranger,' I
said, putting on my hat and taking my cloak on my arm. 'Doubtless you
will accompany me thither?'
He snatched up his hat, his face burning with shame and rage.
'With pleasure!' he blurted out. 'To the devil, if you like!'
I thought the matter arranged, when the Marquis laid his hand on the
young fellow's arm and checked him.
'This must not be,' he said, turning from him to me with his grand,
fine-gentleman's air. 'You know me, M. de Berault. This matter has
gone far enough.'
'Too far! M. de Pombal,' I answered bitterly. 'Still, if you wish to take
your friend's place, I shall raise no objection.'
'Chut, man!' he retorted, shrugging his shoulders negligently. 'I know
you, and I do not fight with men of your stamp. Nor need this
gentleman.'
'Undoubtedly,' I replied, bowing low, 'if he prefers to be caned in the
streets.'
That stung the Marquis.
'Have a care! have a care!' he cried hotly. 'You go too far, M. Berault.'
'De Berault, if you please,' I objected, eyeing him sternly. 'My family
has borne the DE as long as yours, M. de Pombal.'
He could not deny that, and he answered, 'As you please;' at the same
time restraining his friend by a gesture. 'But none the less,' he
continued, 'take my advice. The Cardinal has forbidden duelling, and

this time he means it! You have been in trouble once and gone free. A
second time it may fare worse with you. Let this gentleman go,
therefore, M. de Berault. Besides--why, shame upon you, man!' he
exclaimed hotly; 'he is but a lad!'
Two or three who stood behind me applauded that, But I turned and
they met my eye; and they were as mum as mice.
'His age is his own concern,' I said grimly. 'He was old enough a while
ago to insult me.'
'And I will prove my words!' the lad cried, exploding at last. He had
spirit enough, and the Marquis had had hard work to restrain him so
long. 'You do me no service, M. de Pombal,' he continued, pettishly
shaking off his friend's hand. 'By your leave, this gentleman and I will
settle this matter.'
'That is better,' I said, nodding drily, while the Marquis stood aside,
frowning and baffled. 'Permit me to lead the way.'
Zaton's eating-house stands scarcely a hundred paces from St Jacques
la Boucherie, and half the company went thither with us. The evening
was