dined there were on our way back when we overtook the carriage of
the cardinal; and seeing that he had the Duke of Orleans with him,
we reined back and followed him, deeming that it would not appear
respectful were we to gallop past the carriage. Please bear this
story in mind. Recall also that we dined at the Lion d'Or there,
that our dinner was a good one and that it was a sort of celebration
on my part of our two companies having the honour to be chosen for
duty in Paris. This is a matter upon which much depends; it is, in
fact, a matter of state; and you may well imagine that I should
not be recalling these events to your mind were it not that a good
deal depends upon it, and that I have received strict orders that
this little comedy shall be carried out. I know that I can rely
implicitly upon your discretion, and I have indeed answered for
you all. The story will be true in every respect. Instead of the
excursion having come off today it shall come off on the first day
I can arrange that we can be all off duty."

That evening at the palace Hector was, as the cardinal predicted,
accosted by one of Beaufort's officers, to whom he had been
previously introduced. After talking on other subjects for a few
minutes, he said:

"I saw you today, monsieur, riding with a party of your officers
along the Rue St. Honore. You did not notice me?"

"I assure you that I did not, sir, or I should not have been so
rude as to pass without saluting you." Then he added with a laugh,
"We were riding slowly, too, for the cardinal's coach was in front
of us, and it would not have been good manners to have galloped
past him, especially as he had the Duke of Orleans with him."