“Oh, no, monsieur! But it is bad for the others when messieurs are here.”
“I see. Are none of your friends here to-night?”
“Oh! They will come later, about ten o’clock or so.”
“Tiens! They are late birds,” and, wishing to end the conversation, I ordered some food and a bottle of Vouvray; then, taking my place near the fire, I sat down to my supper. Mine host tried once or twice to draw me into further talk; but finding his efforts useless, left me to my own devices, and returned to his slumbers.
I ate but little, but sipped my wine and began to brood once more over my wrongs, and the sullen anger within me again blazed up fiercely. I thought of Marie, but it was no longer with love. For her sake I had cast aside all that a man holds dear. She had made me dance like a marionette for her amusement, and then—dismissed me with a few cutting words, careless whether she killed my soul or not. Such a thing was a monster, unfit to live, a scourge that it would be righteous to destroy; and—God forgive me! I had sunk so low then that I was prepared to go any lengths to satisfy the unholy craving for revenge for which I thirsted.
Now holding my glass to the light, watching the beads chase each other in the wine, then sipping the Vouvray slowly, I went over my plan. Yes, it was complete in every detail, and I gloated over the joy that was to come to me when I repaid my debt. As for Richelieu, he was but an interlude—I hardly gave him a thought. I was sick and sore at heart when he crossed me, and had flown at him like a mad dog. If he won, well, there was an end of things. If I won, I was no better pleased than before, and yet so great was my inward torment that I almost caught myself wishing that Richelieu’s blade would find my heart.
At last! After an interminable wait, in which the minutes lagged like hours, I heard the compline, and, awakening the host, paid him his score.
“Monsieur does not wait, then, for the Captain?” he said, as he pocketed the coin I gave him.
“No; but perhaps I may return. Good-night.”
“Good-night, monsieur.”