him. The deep silence which reigned was presently broken by the
steps of Tristan l'Hermite as he mounted the grand staircase. The
grand provost entered the hall, and, advancing toward the king,
said:--

"Sire, the affair is settled."

"What! is it all over?" said the king.

"Our man is in the hands of the monks. He confessed the theft after a
touch of the 'question.'"

The countess gave a sign, and turned pale; she could not speak, but
looked at the king. That look was observed by Saint-Vallier, who
muttered in a low tone: "I am betrayed; that thief is an acquaintance
of my wife."

"Silence!" cried the king. "Some one is here who will wear out my
patience. Go at once and put a stop to the execution," he continued,
addressing the grand provost. "You will answer with your own body for
that of the criminal, my friend. This affair must be better sifted,
and I reserve to myself the doing of it. Set the prisoner at liberty
provisionally; I can always recover him; these robbers have retreats
they frequent, lairs where they lurk. Let Cornelius know that I shall
be at his house to-night to begin the inquiry myself. Monsieur de
Saint-Vallier," said the king, looking fixedly at the count, "I know
about you. All your blood could not pay for one drop of mine; do you
hear me? By our Lady of Clery! you have committed crimes of
lese-majesty. Did I give you such a pretty wife to make her pale and
weakly? Go back to your own house, and make your preparations for a