"Seek audience of the Cardinal?" The bare idea froze up my courage; I would as soon have entered a den of lions!
"No, no," I thought, "better to wait for Raoul."
During this time no message had come from him, but on the fourth evening, as I was setting out for my usual promenade, a servant announced a messenger with an urgent letter.
"Show him up," I cried briskly, anxious to learn the nature of my comrade's communication, and hoping it would foretell his speedy arrival.
The messenger's appearance rather surprised me, but I was too full of Raoul to pay much attention to his servant. Still, I noticed he was a small, weazened, mean-looking fellow, quite a dwarf, in fact, with sharp, keen eyes and a general air of cunning.
"You have a letter for me?" said I, stretching out my hand.
"Monsieur de Lalande?" he asked questioningly, with just the slightest possible tinge of suspicion, and I nodded.
"It is to be hoped that no one saw you come in here, monsieur!"
"Waste no more words, but give me the letter; it may be important."
"It is," he answered, "of the utmost importance, and my master wishes it to be read without delay."