“So it seems.”
“But my friend?”
“There are no orders for him. He must remain here.”
“M. de Maison-Rouge,” demanded Richelieu, “did my friend and I keep the agreement we made with you last night?”
“To the letter. Better than I had hoped.”
“You may then have some feeling of friendship for us?”
“What is it, monsieur?”
“M. de Maison-Rouge, I ask you to go out of that door, close it after you, and withdraw ten paces. At the end of five minutes return and I shall be ready to accompany you. Do this for me, monsieur, and I shall not forget it.”
“You will not escape?” asked Maison-Rouge. “It is not a trick?”
“I swear to you, monsieur, that I shall be here when you open the door.”