He owes everything to him.' 'Well, he is gone, sir,' the old man answered positively.

'The news was brought to M.le Marquis about four o'clock, or a little after.

He got his people together, and started after them to try and persuade them to return.

Or, so it is said.' As quickly as I could, I reviewed the situation in my mind.

If this strange news were true, and men like Mercoeur, who had every reason to stand by the king, as well as men like Retz, who had long been suspected of disaffection, were abandoning the Court, the danger must be coming close indeed.