'What!' said Mirabeau, in the same calm voice, 'you Fitzgerald? I should never have recognised you.'
'And are you really the Count de Mirabeau?'
'Gabriel Riquetti, Count de Mirabeau, is my name,' replied he slowly. 'How did you find me out? What chance led you here?'
'No chance, nor accident. I have come expressly to see and speak with you. I am a Garde du Corps, and have assumed this disguise to gain access to you unremarked.'
'A Garde du Corps!' said the Count, in some surprise.
'Yes, Signor Gabriel. My life has had its turns of good and ill fortune since we parted--the best being that I serve a great prince and a kind master.'
'Well said, but not over-prudent words to utter in the Faubourg St. Antoine,' rejoined the Count, smiling. 'Go on.'
'I have come with a message from Monsieur, to desire you will hasten immediately to St. Cloud, where he will meet you. Secrecy and speed are both essential, for which reasons he intrusted me with a mere verbal message, but to secure me your confidence he gave me this ring.'
Mirabeau smiled, and with such a scoffing significance that Gerald stopped, unable to proceed further.
'I have no more to add, Monsieur,' said Gerald haughtily. 'My commission is fulfilled already.'
'Take some wine; you are heated with your long ride,' said the Count, filling out a large goblet, while he motioned to Gerald to be seated.
'Nay, sir; it is not of _me_ there is time to think now. Pray, let me have your answer to my message, for Monsieur told me, if I either failed to find you, or from any casualty you were unable to repair to St. Cloud, that I should come back with all speed to apprise him, my not returning being the sign that all went well.'
'All went well,' muttered Mirabeau to himself. 'How could it go worse?'
Gerald sat gazing in wonderment at the massive, stern features before him, calling up all that he could remember of their first meeting, and scarcely able, even yet to persuade himself that he had been the companion of that great Count de Mirabeau whose fame filled all France.
'In the event of my compliance, you were then to accompany me to St. Cloud?' said the Count, in a tone of inquiry.
'There is mention in history of a certain Duc de Guise----'