'Well, then, you will have to smoothe them down for me, that's all! What do I pay you for?' he added roughly.
'I was not aware that Monseigneur was paying me for anything,' replied Gilles good-humouredly; 'or had paid me anything these three years past.'
'Then why do you serve me, I wonder?'
'I have oft wondered, too!' rejoined Gilles calmly.
'My brother Henri would pay you better; so would my brother-in-law of Navarre.'
'That's just it, Monseigneur. Since there is not much fighting to do just now, other princes would pay me for doing dirty work for them, no doubt. But, being constituted as I am, if I have to do dirty work for any one I would sooner not be paid for doing it. This may sound curious morality, but so it is.'
The Duke laughed.
'Morality? From you, my good Gilles?'
'It does sound incongruous, does it not, Monseigneur?' said Gilles placidly. 'A soldier of fortune, like myself, cannot of a truth afford to have any morality. Mine consists in forgetting the many sins which I have committed and leaving others to commit theirs in peace.'
'Admirable in sentiment, my friend,' concluded Monsieur, with a cynical laugh. 'You will, therefore, leave me in peace to join Madame de Marquette, if I wish?'