the duke, and drew out an order, which I signed, for him to retire
at once to his estates; but the royal messenger returned with
the news that he had half an hour before ridden away to visit his
father at Vendome. A courier will start at once with the order,
but I doubt whether he will be found there. It is probable that
he has gone to one of his own estates, and it may be some time
before we find out where he is. However, it is something that he
has gone."

On his return to the inn Hector told Paolo what had taken place.

"It is a pity that you did not kill them all, master."

"Not at all, Paolo; had I done so every one of their friends would
have been set against me. Both these men are of good families,
and will doubtless report that I had their lives at my mercy and
spared them, and after that no gentleman of reputation would take
the matter up. I shall have to be very careful in future, but now
that the duke has gone there is not likely to be any further trouble
just at present."

Paolo shook his head. "Nay, master, I think the danger all the
greater. In the first place, we do not know that he has gone. I
think it far more likely that he is hiding in the house of one of
his friends. He has pretended to leave because he was sure the
cardinal would take the matter up, and in order that, if he is
absent from Paris when any harm befell you, it could not be brought
home to him. I do not suppose that next time he will employ any
of his own people. He is most popular among the mob of Paris, who
call him the King of the Markets, and he will have no difficulty