'For that you will need strategy, and good strategy.
They suspect everybody. You must deceive them. If you fail to
deceive them, or, deceiving them, are found out later, I do not
think that you will trouble me again, or break the edict a second
time. On the other hand, should you deceive me'--he smiled still
more subtly, but his voice sank to a purring note--'I will break
you on the wheel like the ruined gamester you are!'
I met his look without quailing. 'So be it!' I said recklessly.
'If I do not bring M. de Cocheforet to Paris, you may do that to
me, and more also!'
'It is a bargain!' he answered slowly. 'I think that you will
be faithful. For money, here are a hundred crowns. That sum
should suffice; but if you succeed you shall have twice as much
more. That is all, I think. You understand?'
'Yes, Monseigneur.'
'Then why do you wait?'
'The lieutenant?' I said modestly.
The Cardinal laughed to himself, and sitting down wrote a word or
two on a slip of paper. 'Give him that,' he said in high good-
humour. 'I fear, M. de Berault, you will never get your deserts
--in this world!'
CHAPTER II.
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