"Never mind them. What became of the escort?"
"The wounded men were taken to the inn; the others returned to Paris. Madame Coutance insisted on your being brought to Aunay, and here you have remained ever since."
"Then really," I said, when Raoul gave me this information, "you have all done your best to fulfil Mazarin's orders!"
"It was a mistake. We believed the ladies were to be imprisoned at Reuil, and, besides, it was possible that Madame Coutance had possession of a valuable document."
"You should have searched the Palais Royal for that," I remarked with a laugh.
"You have spoiled our scheme for a time. Your cousin did the Fronde an ill turn when he advised you to go to Paris; you have proved a thorn in our side from the very first day."
I asked after D'Arçy, and found that he had returned with his friends to the capital, where new and startling plots were being hatched.
"Without a doubt we shall crush the Cardinal this time," exclaimed my comrade, whose good spirits revived with my increasing strength. "He will miss his trusty henchman, and there is really no one of importance on his side."
"Then De Retz has not received his red hat?"
"No! Mazarin played him a fine trick over that, and set all Paris laughing for weeks. The little abbé is desperately angry, and intends taking ample vengeance."