'You are doubly welcome.'
The eyes of the Lorrainer sparkled.
'No, monsieur,' said he, 'I am not in the habit of bearing messages for M. Pappenheim; he is one for whom I have but little love——'
'Give me your hand, my dear M. René. I request to be admitted to a copartnery in that abhorrence.'
'You hate each other, then?'
''Tis to avoid his assassins I am this night quartered like a paladin of old in this enchanted chapel; for being in a wood, it must, of course, be enchanted.'
'Yes; it is said that the spirit of Charles the Hardy stalks forth every night at twelve o'clock, side by side with René of Lorraine, both cap-a-pie.'
'Well, twelve is long since past by my watch, and neither of these personages have gone forth, unless they have done so unseen by me. And so you, too, are at enmity with Pappenheim?'
'Enmity deep, bitter, and undying!'
'We are allies,' thought I; 'but, the devil! we may be rivals, too!'