The Grey Cloak - Page 226/256

"Major," interposed Brother Jacques, "leave Monsieur le Vicomte to me.

There will be no duel between these two gentlemen. I will arrange the

affair. Unless Monsieur le Chevalier desires to apologize."

"Nothing of the kind!" replied the Chevalier harshly.

"Release my wrists, sneaking priest!"

Brother Jacques nodded toward the Chevalier to signify that he would

depend upon his own offices. "Monsieur le Vicomte, listen to me. Will

you follow me to your cabin?"

"You?"

"Even so. I have something to say to you."

"Well, I have nothing to say to you. Will you let go of my wrists?"

Brother Jacques lost none of his blandness. "I have only a single

question to ask of you. I will first whisper it. If that does not

convince you, I will ask it aloud. There are those here who will

understand its value." He leaned toward the angry man and whispered a

dozen words into his ear, then drew back, still holding the straining

wrists.

The vicomte looked steadily into the priest's eyes. There was

something lurking in his gaze which would have caused many a brave man

to lower his eyes, But there was a vein of fine metal in this priest's

composition; and the vicomte's glance broke harmlessly.

"Stare as long and as hard as you please, Monsieur. Shall I ask this

question before all these men?"

"I will accompany you." The vicomte had suddenly recovered all his

mental balance.

Brother Jacques released his wrists, took up a lighted candle; and the

two of them left the room, followed by wondering glances, not the least

of these being the Chevalier's, who was at loss to explain the

vicomte's sudden docility. The priest and the vicomte soon entered the

latter's cabin, and the former placed the candle on the table.

"Yes, Monsieur le Vicomte, where were you on the night of the

nineteenth of last February?"

"What is that to you?"

"To me? Nothing. To you? Everything."

"That is a curious question."

"It had power enough to bring you here with me," replied Brother

Jacques complacently.

"Why do you wish to know?"

"I saw you," briefly.

"A great many persons saw me that night. I was on guard at the Louvre."

"Between the hours of eleven and twelve?"

Silence. A spider, seeing the light, swung down in jerks from the

beams and dangled at the side of the candlestick. Suddenly the priest

reached over and caught the vicomte's restless hand.

"Rest assured, Jesuit, that when you broke my sword you left me

weaponless."

"I did well to break that sword. It was an evil one."

"You are very strong for a priest," coolly.

"Oh, do not doubt that there is a man within these robes. Listen.

Your path and that of the Chevalier du Cévennes must not cross again."