"I nearly outwitted you, though," exclaimed the Bishop.
"Very nearly, I admit. Unfortunately for your clever comedy, I happened to know that your valet Sébastien shot a man just outside your gates early in the afternoon. When he told me the elaborate story of the attempted burglary I knew that he lied, and, with that knowledge, I was able to destroy the whole fabric of your machinations. As you see, I bided my time. And the moment that you, thinking that you were alone with the Comte d'Artois, threw down your mask I was ready to strike. Let me bid you farewell, Monseigneur," he added in conclusion, and, without a touch of irony. "You can have twenty-four hours to prepare for your journey South, and you will remain in your château there awaiting His Majesty's pleasure."
The next moment the Man in Grey was gone, even as the Bishop's parting words struck upon his unheeding ear:
"Awaiting the return of His Majesty Louis XVIII, by the Grace of God, King of France," Monseigneur called out at the top of his voice.
CHAPTER VI
THE MYSTERY OF A WOMAN'S HEART
I
The letter dropped from Mme. de Plélan's thin, white hand. She looked across at her daughter with eyes full of tears.
"And now that Monseigneur has gone," she said mournfully, "I feel as if I had lost the very mainstay of our valiant little party."
The girl sighed, somewhat impatiently.