"You missed a great ride, chevalier--come take a turn with me in the garden."
He yielded passively, and in a few steps we had crossed the courtyard and were in a secluded portion of the palace gardens that was called the Lemon Walk. This I may add was subsequently improved out of existence by the architect, in the course of completion of the palace and grounds. When we reached this spot I unslipped my arm, and turning round faced St. Armande, having resolved to end my suspicions.
"See here, chevalier," I said, "I am playing for heavy stakes, I am walking on dangerous ground, and must know where I put my feet; will you answer a plain question, are you friend or foe?"
He looked round him in a helpless sort of way, his colour coming and going, but said nothing. Was it possible the man was a coward?
"If you do not reply," I said, "I will take the risk, and treat you as an enemy, do you hear? you lied to me when you said last night you had played at the Vatican with Colonna--now draw." I pulled out my weapon, and stood before him, expecting every instant to see his rapier in his hands; but he stood absolutely still, his head hanging down.
"Man," I said, "have you not heard? Am I to think you a coward as well as a liar?"
"How dare you say that!" he burst out. "You--you of all men--Oh! what am I saying! Yes, I did not play with Colonna; but I thought you were hard pressed for money, and--and invented the fiction, thinking that perhaps----"
"That perhaps I would accept your winnings over the gambling table, rather than the offer of a friend. You do me much honour, chevalier."
"You wrong me, Savelli,--nay, start not. I know your name and story, and, before heaven, I say I am your friend."
"You know me!"