"Bravo!" cried Armand; "never desert your colours! I wish, though, that you belonged to our side."
"You will come over to us yet," I said. "A week ago you were hand in glove with De Retz; now you are Condé's friends. Next week——"
"That is too far off to consider," laughed Armand. "Next week? Why there are several days before that time arrives! Your mind flies too fast, my boy. I have yet to hear what led to such a hubbub this evening!"
"A mere trifle," remarked Raoul; "Madame Coutance behaved foolishly. The Abbé's mob ordered her to cry 'Down with Condé!' and she told them they weren't fit to be his doormat."
"She has plenty of pluck!"
"It is a pity she hasn't a little more common-sense. To-night she might have set all Paris by the ears through her want of thought. Mazarin was right in declaring she is like a child playing with fire."
"By the way," asked Raoul, "who was the soldier fighting for us? By his uniform he should be one of the Queen's Guards."
"He does belong to them. He is an Englishman named Humphreys, and a right good fellow."
"A fine swordsman! It was wonderful how he cleared a space; the people were afraid to be anywhere near him."
"I must introduce him at the first opportunity. You are sure to like him."