I have something to say to you, but it were not well that we should be seen together." "For the sake of your character or mine, M.Malappris ?" "Malpertuis!" he snapped.
"Malpertuis," I corrected.

"You were saying that we should not be seen together." "St.Auban might hear of it." "Ah! And therefore ?" "You shall learn." We were now under the trees, which albeit leafless yet screened us partly from the road.

He drew rein, and I followed his example.
"M.

de Luynes," he began, "I am or was a member of the cabal formed against Mazarin's aims in the matter of the marriage of Mademoiselle de Canaples to his nephew.

I joined hands with St.Auban, lured by his protestations that it is not meet that such an heiress as Yvonne de Canaples should be forced to marry a foreigner of no birth and less distinction, whilst France holds so many noble suitors to her hand.