"And that is?"
"You have still with you, I hope, a certain ring?"
"Vendôme's ring, or rather the ring of the King of Navarre, as we must call him now. Yes; it is beneath this glove." And I held out my left hand.
"May I see it for a moment?"
"Certainly!" And removing the glove I slipped off the ring and handed it to him. He looked at it curiously, and said:
"I think its time has come."
"Is there anything you are holding back from me?"
"No; but I have a warning in my heart that you will need it. I am superstitious enough never to neglect such a warning. Lend it to me for to-day."
"With pleasure! But is the ring of any avail? Vendôme has forgotten me. He hardly ever returns my salute when we meet——"
"The King of Navarre will at any rate pay this debt of the Duc de Vendôme—I swear it," said Le Brusquet solemnly as he slipped the ring on to his finger, and with that I left them.