I asked Vilain to whom he had called, but the young man,
turning sullen, would answer nothing except that he knew naught
of the paper. I thought it best, therefore, to conduct him at
once to my lodgings, whither it will be believed that I returned
with a lighter heart than I had gone out. It was, indeed, a
providential escape.
How to punish the traitor was another matter, for I could
scarcely do so adequately without betraying my negligence. I
determined to sleep on this, however, and, for the night,
directed him to be locked into a chamber in the south-west
turret, with a Swiss to guard the door; my intention being to
interrogate him farther on the morrow. However, Henry sent for
me so early that I was forced to postpone my examination; and,
being detained by him until evening, I thought it best to tell
him, before I left, what had happened.
He heard the story with a look of incredulity, which, little by
little, gave way to a broad smile. "Well," he said, "Grand
Master, never chide me again! I have heard that Homer sometimes
nods; but if I were to tell this to Sillery or Villeroy, they
would not believe me.
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