as obdurate as his minister； partly in accordance with a promise he had made me about a year before that he would not commonly grant what I had denied； and partly because Biron's affair had now reached a stage in which Saintonge's aid was no longer of importance。
Thus repulsed； the Marquis made up his mind to carry his daughter into the country； but St。 Mesmin meeting this with the confident assertion that he would abduct her within a week； wherever she was confined； Saintonge； desperate as a baited bull； and trembling with ragefor the threat was uttered at Zamet's and was repeated everywhereavowed equally publicly that since the King would give him no satisfaction he would take the law into his own hands； and serve this impudent braggart as Guise served St。 Megrin。 As M。 le Marquis maintained a considerable household； including some who would not stick at a trifle； it was thought likely enough that he would carry out his threat； especially as the provocation seemed to many to justify it。 St。 Mesmin was warned； therefore； but his reckless character was so well known that odds were freely given that he would be caught tripping some nightand for the last time。
At this juncture； however； an unexpected ally； and one whose appearance increased Saintonge's rage to an intolerable extent； took up St。 Mesmin's quarrel。 This was young St。 Germain； who； quitting his chamber； was to be seen everywhere on his antagonist's arm。 The old feud between the Saint Germains and Saintonges aggravated the new； and more than one brawl took place in the streets between the two parties。 St。 Germain never moved without four armed servants； he placed others at his friend's disposal； and wherever he went he loudly proclaimed what he would do if a hair of St。 Mesmin's head were injured。
This seemed to place an effectual check on M。 de Saintonge's purpose； and my surprise was great when； about a week later； the younger St。 Germain burst in upon me one morning； with his face inflamed with anger and his dress in disorder； and proclaimed； before I could rise or speak； that St。 Mesmin had been murdered。
〃How？〃 I said； somewhat startled。 〃And when？〃
〃By M。 de Saintonge！ Last night！〃 he answered furiously。 〃But I will have justice； I will have justice； M。 de Rosny； or the King〃
I checked him as sternly as my surprise would let me； and when I had a little abashed himwhich was not easy； for his temper vied in stubbornness with St。 Mesmin'sI learned the particulars。 About ten o'clock on the previous night St。 Mesmin had received a note； and； in spite of the remonstrances of his servants； had gone out alone。 He had not returned nor been seen since； and his friends feared the worst。
〃But on what grounds？〃 I said； astonished to find that that was all。
〃What！〃 St。 Germain cried； flaring up again。 〃Do you ask on what grounds？ When M。 de Saintonge has told a hundred what he would do to him！ What he would dodo； I say？ What he has done！〃
〃Pooh！〃 I said。 〃It is some assignation； and the rogue is late in returning。〃
〃An assignation； yes；〃 St。 Germain retorted； 〃but one from which he will not return。〃
〃Well； if he does not； go to the Chevalier du Guet；〃 I answered； waving him off。 〃Go！ do you hear？ I am busy；〃 I continued。 〃Do you think that I am keeper of all the young sparks that bay the moon under the citizens' windows？ Be off； sir！〃
He went reluctantly； muttering vengeance； and I； after rating Maignan soundly for admitting him； returned to my work； supposing that before night I should hear of St。 Mesmin's safety。 But the matter took another turn； for while I was at dinner the Captain of the Watch came to speak to me。 St。 Mesmin's cap had been found in a bye…street near the river； in a place where there were marks of a struggle； and his friends were furious。 High words had already passed between the two factions； St。 Germain openly accusing Saintonge of the murder； plainly； unless something were done at once； a bloody fray was imminent。
〃What do you think yourself； M。 le Marchand？〃 I said； when I had heard him out。
He shrugged his shoulders。 〃What can I think； your Excellency？〃 he said。 〃What else was to be expected？〃
〃You take it for granted that M。 de Saintonge is guilty？〃
〃The young man is gone；〃 he answered pithily。
In spite of this； I thought the conclusion hasty； and contented myself with bidding him see St。 Germain and charge him to be quiet； promising that； if necessary； the matter should be investigated and justice done。 I still had good hopes that St。 Mesmin's return would clear up the affair； and the whole turn out to be a freak on his part； but within a few hours tidings that Saintonge had taken steps to strengthen his house and was lying at home； refusing to show himself； placed a different and more serious aspect on the mystery。 Before noon next day M。 de Clan； whose interference surprised me not a little； was with me to support his son's petition； and at the King's LEVEE next day St。 Germain accused his enemy to the King's face； and caused an angry and indecent scene in the chamber。
When a man is in trouble foes spring up； as the moisture rises through the stones before a thaw。 I doubt if M。 de Saintonge was not more completely surprised than any by the stir which ensued； and which was not confined to the St。 Germains' friends； though they headed the accusers。 All whom he had ever offended； and all who had ever offended him； clamoured for justice； while St。 Mesmin's faults being forgotten and only his merits remembered； there were few who did not bow to the general indignation； which the young and gallant； who saw that at any moment his fate might be theirs； did all in their power to foment。 Finally； the arrival of St。 Mesmin the father； who came up almost broken… hearted； and would have flung himself at the King's feet on the first opportunity； roused the storm to the wildest pitch； so that； in the fear lest M。 de Biron's friends should attempt something under cover of it； I saw the King and gave him my advice。 This was to summon Saintonge； the St。 Germains； and old St。 Mesmin to his presence and effect a reconciliation； or； failing that； to refer the matter to the Parliament。
He agreed with me and chose to receive them next day at the Arsenal。 I communicated his commands； and at the hour named we met； the King attended by Roquelaure and myself。 But if I had flattered myself that the King's presence would secure a degree of moderation and reasonableness I was soon undeceived； for though M。 de St。 Mesmin had only his trembling head and his tears to urge； Clan and his son fell upon Saintonge with so much violenceto which he responded by a fierce and resentful sullenness equally dangerousthat I feared that blows would be struck even before the King's face。 Lest this should happen and the worst traditions of old days of disorder be renewed； I interposed and managed at length to procure silence。
〃For shame； gentlemen； for shame！〃 the King said； gnawing his moustachios after a fashion he had when in doubt。 〃I take Heaven to witness that I cannot say who is right！ But this brawling does no good。 The one fact we have is that St。 Mesmin has disappeared。〃
〃Yes； sire； and that M。 de Saintonge predicted his disappearance；〃 St。 Germain cried； impulsively。 〃To the day and almost to the hour。〃
〃I gather； de Saintonge；〃 the King said； turning to him； mildly； 〃that you did use some expressions of that kind。〃
〃Yes； sire； and did nothing upon them；〃 he answered resentfully。 But he trembled as he spoke。 He was an older man than his antagonist； and the latter's violence shook him。
〃But does M。 de Saintonge deny；〃 St。 Germain broke out afresh before the King could speak； 〃that my friend had made him a proposal for his daughter？ and that he rejected it？〃
〃I deny nothing！〃 Saintonge cried； fierce and trembling as a baited animal。 〃For that matter； I would to Heaven he had had her！〃 he continued bitterly。
〃Ay； so you say now；〃 the irrepressible St。 Germain retorted； 〃when you know that be is dead！〃
〃I do not know that he is dead；〃 Saintonge answered。 〃And； for that matter； if he were alive and here now he should have her。 I am tired； I have suffered enough。〃
〃What！ Do you tell the King；〃 the young fellow replied incredulously； 〃that if St。 Mesmin were here you would give him your daughter？〃
〃I doI do！〃 the other exclaimed passionately。 〃To be rid of him； and you； and all your crew！〃
〃Tut； tut！〃 the King said。 〃Whatever betides； I will answer for it； you shall have protection and justice； M。 de Saintonge。 And do you； young sir； be silent。 Be silent； do you hear！ We have had too much noise introduced into this already。〃
He proceeded then to ask certain details； and particularly the hour at which St。 Mesmin had been last seen。 Notwithstanding that these facts were in the main matters of common agreement； some wrangling took place over them； which was only brought to an end at last in a manner sufficiently startling。 The King with his usual thoughtfulness had bidden St。 Mesmin be seated。 On a sudden the old man rose； I heard him utter a cry of amazement； and following the direction of his eyes I looked towards the door。 There stood his son！
At an appearance so unexpected a dozen exclamations filled the air； but to describe the scene which ensued or the various emotions that were evinced by this or that person； as surprise or interest or affection moved them； were a task on which I am not inclined to enter。 Suffice it that the foremost and the loudest in these expressions of admiration was young St。 Germain； and that the King； after glancing from face to face in puzzled perplexity； began to make a shrewd guess at the truth。
〃This is a very timely return； M。 de St。 Mesmin；〃 he said drily。
〃Yes； sire；〃 the young impertinent answered； not a whit abashed。
〃Very timely； indeed。〃
〃Yes； sire。 And the more as St。 Germain tells me that M。 de Saintonge in his clemency has reconsidered my claims； and has undertaken to use that influence with Mademoiselle which〃
But on that word M。 de Saintonge； comprehending the RUSE by which he had been overcome； cut him short； crying out in a rage that he would see him in perdition first。 However； we all i