"Whither away, Simon?" said he coldly.
I halted, stood still, looked him in the face. He met my gaze with a calm, self-controlled smile.
"Why," said I, "I'm on my way to bed, Darrell. Let me pass, I beg you."
"A moment later will serve," said he.
"Not a moment," I replied testily, and caught him by the arm. He was stiff as a rock, but I put out my strength and in another instant should have thrown him aside. But he cried in a loud angry voice,
"By the King's orders, no man is to pass this way."
Amazed, I fell back. But over his head, some twenty yards from us, I saw two men embracing one another warmly. Nobody else was near; Darrell's eyes were fixed on me, and his hand detained me in an eager grasp. But I looked hard at the pair there ahead of me; there was a cloud over the moon now, in a second it passed. The next moment the two had turned their backs and were walking off together. Darrell, seeing my fixed gaze, turned also. His face was pale, as if with excitement, but he spoke in cool, level tones.
"It's only M. Colbert greeting M. de Perrencourt," said he.
"Ah, of course!" I cried, turning to him with a smile. "But where did M. Colbert get that Star?" For the glitter of the decoration had caught my eye, as it sparkled in the moonlight.