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eeping child on his lap。 M。 Fauchet stared at him awhile before he recognised him； but at last the trembling man knew him； and tottering to his feet； threw himself on his knees； looking years older than when I had last seen him in the street。
〃Sire；〃 he said faintly； 〃I will make restitution。〃
Henry looked at him gravely； and nodded。 〃It is well；〃 he said。 〃You are fortunate； M。 Fauchet； for had this come to my ears in any other way I could not have spared you。 You will render your accounts and papers to M。 de Sully to…morrow； and according as you are frank with him you will be treated。〃
Fauchet thanked him with abject tears； and the King rose and prepared to leave。 But at the door a thought struck him； and he turned。 〃How long have you done this？〃 he said； indicating the room by a gesture； and speaking in a gentler tone。
〃Three years； sire；〃 the wretched man answered。
〃And how much have you distributed？〃
〃Fifteen hundred crowns； sire。〃
The King cast an indescribable look at me； wherein amusement； scorn； and astonishment were all blended。 〃St。 Gris！ man！〃 he said； shrugging his shoulders and drawing in his breath sharply； 〃you think God is as easily duped as the King！ I wish I could think so。〃
He did not speak again until we were half…way back to the Louvre； when he opened his mouth to announce his intention of rewarding me with a tithe of the money recovered。 It was duly paid to me； and I bought with it part of the outlying lands of Villebon those； I mean； which extend towards Chartres。 The rest of the money； notwithstanding all my efforts； was wasted here and there； Pimentel winning thirty crowns of the King that year。 But the discovery led to others of a similar character； and eventually set me on the track of a greater offender； M。 l'Argentier； whom I brought to justice a few months later。
IX。 THE MAID OF HONOUR。
In accordance with my custom I gave an entertainment on the last day of this year to the King and Queen； who came to the Arsenal with a numerous train； and found the diversions I had provided so much to their taste that they did not leave until I was half dead with fatigue； and like to be killed with complaisance。 Though this was not the most splendid entertainment I gave that year； it had the good fortune to please； and in a different and less agreeable fashion is recalled to my memory by a peculiar chain of events； whereof the first link came under my eyes during its progress。
I have mentioned in an earlier part of these memoirs； a Portuguese adventurer who； about this time； gained large sums from the Court at play； and more than once compelled the King to have recourse to me。 I had the worst opinion of this man； and did not scruple to express it on several occasions； and this the more； as his presumption fell little short of his knavery； while he treated those whom he robbed with as much arrogance as if to play with him were an honour。 Holding this view of him； I was far from pleased when I discovered that the King had brought him to my house； but the feeling； though sufficiently strong； sank to nothing beside the indignation and disgust which I experienced when； the company having fallen to cards after supper； I found that the Queen had sat down with him to primero。
It did not lessen my annoyance； that I had； after my usual fashion； furnished the Queen with a purse for her sport； and in this way found myself reduced to stand by and see my good money pass into the clutches of this knave。 Under the circumstances； and in my own house； I could do nothing； nevertheless； the table at which they sat possessed so strong a fascination for me that I several times caught myself staring at it more closely than was polite； and as to disgust at the unseemliness of such companionship was added vexation at my own loss； I might have gone farther towards betraying my feelings if a casual glance aside had not disclosed to me the fact that I did not stand alone in my dissatisfaction； but that； frivolous as the majority of the courtiers were； there was one at least among those present who viewed this particular game with distaste。
This person stood near the door； and fancying himself secured from observation； either by his position or his insignificance； was glowering on the pair in a manner that at another time must have cost him a rebuke。 As it was； I found something friendly； as well as curious； in his fixed frown； and ignorant of his name； though I knew him by sight； wondered both who he was and what was the cause of his preoccupation。
On the one point I had no difficulty in satisfying myself。 Boisrueil； who presently passed； told me that his name was Vallon； that he belonged to a poor but old family in the Cotentin； and that he had been only three months at court。
〃Making his fortune； I suppose？〃 I said grimly。 〃He games？〃
〃No； your excellency。〃
〃Is in debt？〃
〃Not to my knowledge。〃
〃To whom does he pay his court； then？〃
〃To the King。〃
〃And the Queen？〃
〃Not particularlyas far as I know； at least。 But if you wish to know more； M。 le Duc；〃 Boisrueil continued； 〃I will〃
〃No； no；〃 I said peevishly。 The Queen had just handed her last rouleau across the table； and was still playing。 〃Go； man； about your business； I don't want to spend the evening gossiping with you。〃
He went； and I dismissed the young fellow from my mind； only to find him five minutes later at my elbow。 To youth and good looks he added a modest bearing that did not fail to enhance them and commend him to me； the majority of the young sparks of the day being wiser than their fathers。 But I confess that I was not prepared for the stammering embarrassment with which he addressed menor； indeed； to be addressed by him at all。
〃M。 de Sully；〃 he said； in a tone of emotion； 〃I beg you to pardon me。 I am in great trouble； and I think that perhaps； stranger as I am； you may condescend to do me a service。〃
So many men appeal to a minister with some such formula on their lips； and at times with a calculated timidity； that at the first blush of his request I was inclined to bid him come to me at the proper time； and to remove to another part of the room。 But curiosity； playing the part of his advocate； found so much that was candid in his manner that I hesitated。 〃What is it？〃 I said stiffly。
〃A very slight； if a very unusual； one；〃 he muttered。 〃M。 le Duc； I only want you to〃
〃To？〃 for he stopped and seemed unable to go on。
〃To supplement the present you have given to the Queen with this；〃 he blurted out； his face pale with emotion； and he stealthily held out to me a green silk purse； through the meshes of which I saw the glint of gold。 〃M。 de Sully；〃 he continued； observing my hasty movement； 〃do not be offended！ I know that you have done all that hospitality required。 But I see that the Queen has already lost your gift； and that〃
She is playing on credit？〃
〃Yes； Monsieur。〃
He said it simply； and as he spoke； he again pressed on me the purse。 I took and weighed it； and calculated at a guess that it held fifty crowns。 The sum astonished me。 〃Why； man；〃 I said； 〃you are not mad enough to be in love with her Majesty？〃
〃No！〃 he cried； vehemently；