You, better than I, M.de Montsoreau, know that the King in the Gallery at the Louvre is one, and in his closet is another." "Yes." "And that being so--" "You do not mean to carry the letters into effect ?" "Had I the letters, certainly, my friend.

I should be bound by them.

But I took good care to lose them," Tavannes added naively.

"I am no fool." "Umph!" "However," Count Hannibal continued, with an airy gesture, "that is my affair.

If you, M.de Montsoreau, feel inclined, in spite of the absence of my letters, to carry yours into effect, by all means do so--after midnight of to-day." M.de Montsoreau breathed hard.