Mascarin made a short pause.
“What we want of you,” answered he, “will not compromise you in the slightest degree. I wish you to draw up a document, the particulars of which I will give you presently, and you will outwardly have no connection with the matter.”
“Very good.”
“But there is more yet. The Duke of Champdoce has placed a difficult task in your hands. You are engaged in a secret on his behalf.”
“You know that also?”
“I know everything that may be made subservient to our ends. I also know that instead of coming direct to me you went to the very man that we have every reason to dread, that fellow Perpignan, who is nearly as sharp as we are.”
“Go on,” returned Catenac impatiently. “What do you expect from me on this point?”
“Not much; you must only come to me first, and report any discovery you may have made, and never give any information to the Duke without first consulting us.”
“I agree.”
The contending parties seemed to have arrived at an amicable termination, and Dr. Hortebise smiled complacently.