The king frowned slightly. "What privilege?"
"Immunity if my mission displeases you," Lagardere answered.
The king looked steadily at the seeming gypsy, who returned his glance as steadily. "You are bold, sir," he said.
Lagardere answered him, with composure. "I am bold because I address Louis of France, who never broke his word—Louis of France, who still holds dear the memory of Louis of Nevers."
The king signed to him to continue. "Speak freely. What do you know of Louis of Nevers?"
Lagardere went on: "Lagardere knows much. He knows who killed Nevers. He knows where Nevers’s child is. He can produce the child. He can denounce the murderer."
"When?" asked the king, eagerly.
"To-morrow," Lagardere answered. Then he hastened to add: "But he makes his conditions."
Louis frowned as Lagardere mentioned the word "conditions," and asked: "What reward does he want?"
Lagardere smiled at the question. "You do not know Lagardere. He asks for a safe-conduct for himself."