"I am going," I said. "What has to be done must be done quickly."
He nodded assent. "I shall come with you part of the way," he said, and called to his ape.
With this we descended from the wall, and walked back together to the
Ladies' Terrace.
The gardens were full, for the perfect day had tempted all within the palace who could do so to come forth. Scattered here and there in the walks, or resting on the seats, were knots of people, the bright colours of their dresses all the brighter in the mellow sunshine. As we were passing the fountain called the Three Graces we were stopped by a little man with a round face and bulging eyes. He was quite young, not more than four or five and twenty, but, young as he was, Monsieur de Brantôme had already acquired the reputation of being an inveterate gossip, and was feared more than the plague. I had but a passing acquaintance, two days' old, with him, but he seized Le Brusquet.
"Eh bien, Le Brusquet! I hear that you were with the King and madame early this morning, and that high words passed. Is it true that you leave the Court?"
"I promise to leave it, monsieur, if you will but take my office."
"Your office!" said Brantôme in surprise.
"Yes; I have always felt myself unworthy of it since I had the honour to meet you."
"Not at all, my friend," grinned Brantôme; "you do yourself injustice. The man who quarrels with madame has unequalled claims. You have no rival. Au revoir!"
And, chuckling to himself, the little abbe went on, leaving Le Brusquet biting his lip. Brantôme stopped the next person he met to tell him of the passage-at-arms, and turning the walk we found ourselves in front of the Ladies' Terrace.