The unknown bowed silently.
"Mordieu!" whispered Dubois in his ear, "if you do not speak he will not say anything."
"This gentleman comes from Bretagne, I believe," said the duke, coldly.
"Yes, monsieur; but will your excellency pardon me. Captain la Jonquiere has told my name, but I have not been told yours. Excuse my rudeness, monseigneur; it is not I who speak, it is my province, which sends me."
"You are right, monsieur," said La Jonquiere, quickly, taking from a portfolio on the table a paper, at the bottom of which was a large signature with the seal of the king of Spain.
"Here is the name," said he.
"Duc d'Olivares," read Gaston.
Then turning to him, he bowed respectfully.
"And now, monsieur," said the duke, "you will not, I presume, hesitate to speak."
"I thought I had first to listen," said Gaston, still on the defensive.