"Here comes Villa Grande, the Italian lute-player," exclaimed Cinq Mars the moment he saw him. "Do you know him, De Blenau?"
"I have heard him play on his instrument and sing at your house," replied De Blenau; "and from his language that night, may say I know him through and through, for a boasting coxcomb, with as much courage as the sheath of a rapier,--which looks as good as a rapier itself till it is touched, and then it proves all emptiness. Mind you how he boasted of having routed whole squadrons when he served in the Italian horse? and I dare say he would run from a stuffed pikeman in an old hall."
"Nay, nay; you do him wrong, Claude," replied Cinq Mars. "He has rather too much tongue, it is true; but that is not always the sign of a bad hound. I must speak to him, however, for he does me service.--Well, Signor Villa Grande," continued he, addressing the Italian, who now approached, swinging an enormous cane in his hand, and from time to time curling up the ends of his mustaches; "you remember that you are to be ready at a moment's notice. Be sure, also, that your mind be made up; for I tell you fairly, the service which you undertake is one of danger."
"Monsieur," replied the Italian with a strong foreign accent, "I will be ready, when you call upon me, in shorter time than you could draw your sword; and as for my mind being made up, if there were an army drawn out to oppose my progress, I would be bound to carry the despatch to the Duke of Bouillon, or die in the attempt. Fear not my yielding it to any body; _piutosto morir vol'io_, as the song has it," and he hummed a few bars of one of his native airs.--"_Oh Dio!_" continued he, recognising De Blenau, who had turned away on perceiving that Cinq Mars spoke to the Italian on some business of a private nature. "_Oh Dio!_ Monsieur le Comte de Blenau, is it really you returned at last? _Benedetto quel giorno felice!_ Doubtless you are aware of the glorious plans of your friend Monsieur le Grand."
"Good day, Signor," answered De Blenau; "I know of no one's plans but my own, the most glorious of which, within my apprehension at present, is to get to the Palace as soon as possible. Come, Cinq Mars, are you at leisure?" and he took a step or two in advance, while the Master of the Horse gave the Italian a warning to put a bridle on his tongue, and not to let it run so loosely without any regard to necessary caution.