Under the Red Robe | Page 6

he was about to nod to the lieutenant to withdraw me,
and a chilling sweat broke out down my back. I saw the scaffold, I felt
the cords. A moment, and it would be too late!
'I have a favour to ask,' I stammered desperately, 'if your Eminence will
give me a moment alone.'
'To what end?' he answered, turning and eyeing me with cold disfavour.
'I know you--your past--all. It can do no good, my friend.'
'No harm!' I cried. 'And I am a dying man, Monseigneur!'
'That is true,' he said thoughtfully. Still he seemed to hesitate; and my
heart beat fast. At last he looked at the lieutenant. 'You may leave us,'
he said shortly. 'Now,' he continued, when the officer had withdrawn
and left us alone, 'what is it? Say what you have to say quickly. And,

above all, do not try to fool me, M. de Berault.'
But his piercing eyes so disconcerted me now that I had my chance,
and was alone with him, that I could not find a word to say, and stood
before him mute. I think this pleased him, for his face relaxed.
'Well?' he said at last. 'Is that all?'
'The man is not dead,' I muttered.
He shrugged his shoulders contemptuously.
'What of that?' he said. 'That was not what you wanted to say to me.'
'Once I saved your Eminence's life,' I faltered miserably.
'Admitted,' he answered, in his thin, incisive voice. 'You mentioned the
fact before. On the other hand, you have taken six to my knowledge, M.
de Berault. You have lived the life of a bully, a common bravo, a
gamester. You, a man of family! For shame! Do you wonder that it has
brought you to this! Yet on that one point I am willing to hear more,' he
added abruptly.
'I might save your Eminence's life again,' I cried. It was a sudden
inspiration.
'You know something?' he said quickly, fixing me with his eyes. 'But
no,' he continued, shaking his head gently. 'Pshaw! The trick is old. I
have better spies than you, M. de Berault.'
'But no better sword,' I cried hoarsely. 'No, not in all your guard!'
'That is true,' he said slowly. 'That is true.' To my surprise, he spoke in
a tone of consideration; and he looked down at the floor. 'Let me think,
my friend,' he continued.
He walked two or three times up and down the room, while I stood
trembling. I confess it, trembling. The man whose pulses danger has no
power to quicken, is seldom proof against suspense; and the sudden

hope his words awakened in me so shook me that his figure as he trod
lightly to and fro with the cat rubbing against his robe and turning time
for time with him, wavered before my eyes. I grasped the table to
steady myself. I had not admitted even in my own mind how darkly the
shadow of Montfaucon and the gallows had fallen across me.
I had leisure to recover myself, for it was some time before he spoke.
When he did, it was in a voice harsh, changed, imperative. 'You have
the reputation of a man faithful, at least, to his employer,' he said. 'Do
not answer me. I say it is so. Well, I will trust you. I will give you one
more chance --though it is a desperate one. Woe to you if you fail me!
Do you know Cocheforet in Bearn? It is not far from Auch.'
'No, your Eminence.'
'Nor M. de Cocheforet?'
'No, your Eminence.'
'So much the better,' he replied. 'But you have heard of him. He has
been engaged in every Gascon plot since the late King's death, and
gave more trouble last year in the Vivarais than any man twice his
years. At present he is at Bosost in Spain, with other refugees, but I
have learned that at frequent intervals he visits his wife at Cocheforet
which is six leagues within the border. On one of these visits he must
be arrested.'
'That should be easy,' I said.
The Cardinal looked at me. 'Chut, man! what do you know about it?' he
answered bluntly. 'It is whispered at Cocheforet if a soldier crosses the
street at Auch. In the house are only two or three servants, but they
have the countryside with them to a man, and they are a dangerous
breed. A spark might kindle a fresh rising. The arrest, therefore, must
be made secretly.'
I bowed.

'One resolute man inside the house,' the Cardinal continued,
thoughtfully glancing at a paper which lay on the table, 'with the help
of two or three servants whom he could summon to his aid at will,
might effect it. The question is, Will you be the