'But, you see, the Cardinal--'
'Ay, but the Cardinal--' he rejoined quickly; and then he stopped
and shrugged his shoulders. And they both looked at me.
'Well?' I said.
'The King,' he answered slowly.
'Tut-tut!' I exclaimed, spreading out my hands. 'The Cardinal.
Let us stick to him. You were saying?'
'Well, the Cardinal, you see--' And then again, after the same
words, he stopped--stopped abruptly, and shrugged his shoulders.
I began to suspect something.
'If you have anything to say against Monseigneur,' I answered,
watching him narrowly, 'say it. But take a word of advice.
Don't let it go beyond the door of this room, my friend, and it
will do you no harm.'
'Neither here nor outside,' he retorted, looking for a moment at
his comrade. 'Only I hold the King's commission. That is all,
and, I think, enough.'
'Well--for the rest, will you throw a main?' he answered
evasively. 'Good! Lieutenant, find a glass, and the gentleman a
seat. And here, for my part, I will give you a toast The
Cardinal--whatever betide!'
I drank it, and sat down to play with him; I had not heard the
music of the dice for a month, and the temptation was
irresistible.
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