He shrugged his shoulders again.
"'T is you who command here," he answered with apathy, "not I."
"Nevertheless, do you not think the plan a safe one, as well as one that will allay his Eminence's very natural impatience?"
"Oh, it is safe enough, I doubt not," he replied coldly.
"Your enthusiasm determines me," quoth I, with an irony that made him wince. "And we will follow the plan, since you agree with me touching its excellence. But keep the matter to yourself until an hour or so after sunset."
He bowed, so utterly my dupe that I could have laughed at him. Then--"There is a little matter that I would mention," he said. "Mademoiselle de Canaples has expressed a wish to accompany her father to Paris and has asked me whether this will be permitted her."
My heart leaped. Surely the gods fought on my side!
"I cannot permit it," I answered icily.
"Monsieur, you are pitiless," he protested in a tone of indignation for which I would gladly have embraced him.
I feigned to ponder.
"The matter needs consideration. Tell Mademoiselle that I will discuss it with her at noon, if she will condescend to await me on the terrace; I will then give her my definite reply. And now, Lieutenant, let us breakfast."
As completely as I had duped Montrésor did I presently dupe those of the troopers with whom I came in contact, among others the sergeant--and anon the Chevalier himself.
From the brief interview that I had with him I discovered that whilst he but vaguely suspected me to be St. Auban--and when I say "he suspected me" I mean he suspected him whose place I had taken--he was, nevertheless, aware of the profit which his captor, whoever he might be, derived from this business. It soon grew clear to me from what he said that St. Auban had mocked him with it whilst concealing his identity; that he had told him how he had obtained from Malpertuis the treasonable letter, and of the bargain which it had enabled him to strike with Mazarin. I did not long remain in his company, and, deeming the time not yet ripe for disclosures, I said little in answer to his lengthy tirades, which had, I guessed, for scope to trap me into betraying the identity he but suspected.
It wanted a few minutes to noon as I left the room in which the old nobleman was confined, and by the door of which a trooper was stationed, musket on shoulder. With every pulse a-throbbing at the thought of my approaching interview with Mademoiselle, I made my way below and out into the bright sunshine, the soldiers I chanced to meet saluting me as I passed them.