The boy is my only friend in a world of enemies.

I am growing fond of him, Monsieur, and I will stand by him, while my arm can wield a sword, in all that may advance his fortunes and his happiness.

That, Monsieur, is my last word." "Do not forget, M.de Luynes," he said--his suaveness all departed of a sudden, and his tone full of menace and acidity--"do not forget that when a wall may not be scaled it may be broken through." "Aye, Monsieur, but many of those who break through stand in danger of being crushed by the falling stones," I answered, entering into the spirit of his allegory.
"There are many ways of striking," he said.
"And many ways of being struck," I retorted with a sneer.
Our words grew sinister, our eyes waxed fiery, and more might have followed had not the door leading to the staircase opened at that moment to admit Andrea himself.

He came, elegant in dress and figure, with a smile upon his handsome young face, whose noble features gave the lie to St.Auban's assertion that he had been drawn from a squalid Sicilian home.

Such faces are not bred in squalor.
In utter ignorance of the cabal against him, he greeted St.Auban--who was well known to him--with a graceful bow, and also Vilmorin, who stood in the doorway with Malpertuis, and who at the sight of Mancini grew visibly ill at ease.