Directly at noon, Charles d'Avaloy, along with a small company of Guards, show up at the back of the Louvre, much to the astonishment of three men; whom, it would seem, had been waiting for him there.

 

"Only three?" d'Avaloy says to himself. "There may be more waiting for me wherever it is that they wish for me to go."

 

Upon arriving in the presence of the three men, d'Avaloy exclaims surprise at the one who is standing in front of the other two.

 

"L'Forney! Are you behind all this?" he says, addressing the man with whom he had a conversation with in the courtyard of the Guards only an hour earlier.

 

"Of course! Did you not know?" l’Forney says, smiling as usual. "I really didn't think that it would be that hard for you to figure out. I gave you a clue only this morning."

 

"A clue?"

 

"Are you really that dense? Do you not remember our conversation this morning when you challenged me to a duel, and I said that you have to attend other matters of that nature first? I was referring to the letter that I sent to you last night. My friend, here, delivered it to you," he adds, pointing out the man standing behind him to his left.

 

"Who hired you to kill me?" bellows out d'Avaloy, wasting no time.

 

"What! Hired me?" l'Forney says. He then turns to his friends, and says to them: "He thinks that someone has hired me to kill him! As if he were that important."

 

After saying this last sentence, l'Forney bursts out laughing. His two friends laugh a little as well, but not over-enthusiastically, for seeing the small troop of Guards that are with d'Avaloy, they have become somewhat nervous.

 

"And what's with this company of Guards?" l'Forney continues, turning back to the lieutenant. "Need this much help with your fencing?"

 

"That note that you sent me was part of a series of strange events, and the captain thought it wise to send a small company of Guards with me, to make sure that there's no foul play, and that I can have a fair fight."

 

Ever since d'Avaloy had mentioned the word 'captain', l'Forney's eyes began to widen. "The captain!" he yells out, with a grimacing gesture. "You have involved the captain in this matter? Are you trying to get us both arrested? Are you mad?"

 

"Let's just say that the captain involved himself into this matter. There was a man that came to see the captain last night, asking for me – a man whom the captain had never seen before. He came to warn me of my life, that it was in danger. They found that same man dead in an alley this morning, and the message was never delivered to me."

 

"And, you think that I killed him?" asked l'Forney, a bit concerned.

 

"It was either you, or one of your friends," he says, looking at the other two men; who, in turn, look at each other with worried expressions upon their faces. "Or, perhaps," d’Avaloy continues, "the killer was part of the same group that hired you to kill me today."

 

"What an imagination you have, d'Avaloy. When I said that you weren't important enough to hire someone to kill you, I wasn't jesting. I'm not even going to kill you myself!"

 

"Oh, no? If what you say is true, then why did you sign the letter as 'your murderer?'"

 

"It was to get you upset!" l’Forney says, while rolling his eyes about sarcastically. "It was not an actual threat. I merely wanted to humiliate you in front of a couple of witnesses here, just to have some fun. There's no real murder involved."

 

"Oh, but there is murder involved. And, you are now the prime suspect – you and your two friends, here. And, I have a handful of witnesses who can vouch for that," he adds, while pointing out the soldiers who are accompanying him. "Just by you being here, and confessing that the word 'murderer' was in your note, these men can all testify that you were the one’s who signed a death threat."

 

"Now, wait just a moment!" protests one of l'Forney's friends. "What l'Forney has been telling you is true. We just wanted to scare you, and humiliate you a little – there was no murder to be involved. We have nothing to do with the death you spoke of."

 

"Why is it that you want to humiliate me?" says d’Avaloy, with a frown, and while addressing l’Forney’s friend. "I don't even know you. What have I done to you?"

 

"Nothing, personally. I am doing this as a favor to my friend l'Forney."

 

"I have never seen you before," continues Charles. "Just who are you, sir?"

 

"François d’Ambry, of Musketeers. And, my associate here is Monsieur Nicolas de Fontenot, also of Musketeers."

 

"Trying to impress your new lieutenant, eh gentlemen?"

 

"It's not that way, Monsieur d'Avaloy," insists d'Ambry. "L'Forney insisted that you were nothing but a scoundrel, and how you had hurt his mistress; and, that you really needed to be taught a lesson."

 

"His mistress?" asks Charles, taken aback by that statement. "And, who is that?"

 

"Oh, come now, d'Avaloy," says l'Forney, "don't play stupid now. You have dishonored a lovely lady – don’t try and deny it!"

 

"I honestly don't know what you're talking about," declares d’Avaloy, knitting his brows heavily. "What lady?"

 

"You really are dense!"

 

"Enough insults l'Forney, or I'll order my men to shoot you!"

 

"And, I believe that you would – it would save yourself from my sword! You know perfectly well that I am speaking of Madame Anne, Duchess d'Halluin."

 

"What! The marshal of France's daughter in law? She’s your mistress? So, that's how you received the appointment of lieutenant of Musketeers! I knew that you didn't receive that appointment upon your own merits. You come from a good and noble family, but that station is beneath one such as yourself."

 

"Now, who is insulting who?"

 

"That's not an insult – that's a fact!"

 

"Enough! I had my mind set on teaching you a lesson today, but after these new events I will hold my peace, for I would like to have a talk with the captain about these matters, and try to prove my innocence of this murder – considering that you said I'm the prime suspect. However, this still does not excuse you of offending my mistress."

 

"I tell you honestly, l'Forney, I know not your mistress. I have never even met her – I swear upon my honor as a gentleman! Perhaps she has me mixed up with someone else of her acquaintance."

"Perhaps," l'Forney says, unconvinced. "I will, however, get to the bottom of this matter. If you are guilty, I should like satisfaction from your humiliation."

 

"If you prove me guilty, I should be honored to satisfy you. If proved innocent, I will hear no more about this, and you will not bother me in future."

 

"Agreed!" simply says l'Forney.

 

The group of men turn on their heels to leave; but, just as soon as they turn, however, they are stopped short by the figure of a man who is standing at a short distance away, enveloped inside of a dark hooded cloak, and is facing them.

 

"Who goes there?" asks d'Avaloy, in a voice of authority. But, then, upon a suspicion: "Is that you, Arnaund?"

 

The man now takes off his hood. "Yes; it is I, Charles. I am glad that the duel did not take place."

"How long have you been standing there, brother?"

 

"I've been behind your troop since you first entered this place."

 

"Did you overhear our conversation?"

 

"Nay. I was standing in the background, praying."

 

"I see. Then you do not know that your life may be in danger?"

 

"Danger?" Arnaund d'Avaloy asks, forcing his brows into a questionable look.

 

"Yes, danger. It would seem that there's someone out to kill me, and you may be a target, as well. Come, let's go to my captain, and all will be explained there."

 

****

 

Just as soon as Charles d'Avaloy, Arnaund, l'Forney, d'Ambry and Monsieur de Fontenot enter into Captain des Essarts' chambers, Charles briefly explains what had taken place behind the Louvre to his commander.

 

"Well, I'm glad to see that you are safe and sound, my friend," says the captain, after hearing the story.

 

D'Avaloy grins, while saying: "Well, did you expect me to lose in the first place?"

 

"Ha!" suddenly bellows out l'Forney.

 

At this, the captain looks hard at l'Forney. "You can laugh, but this is a very serious matter, sir," he tells him, in a firm rebuke. "It’s a good thing that you will not be in my company as of tomorrow – else, I would have you imprisoned for your insolence! Instead, I will write the captain of Musketeers and have him deal with you in the best way that he sees fit."

 

L'Forney looks glaringly at d'Avaloy. "Thanks for telling him!"

 

D'Avaloy was about to reply when the captain broke in: "He didn't just tell me; but, considering the circumstances, he had no choice. Honestly, this is the first time that he has ever spoken to me about these types of engagements of his. I think, dear sir, that you have a lot of explaining to do concerning many matters. But, first . . ." at this, he looks back at d'Avaloy, "I must explain that my words to you were not because I thought you would have lost the duel..."

 

L'Forney laughs silently under his breath.

 

"...it was because I have just been informed that the body of my messenger has recently been found near your apartment, and that his letter was stolen from him."

 

"Another death," interrupts l'Forney. "And, I suppose that this will count against me, too!"

 

"As I've told you, l'Forney," says d'Avaloy, "you are the prime suspect because of your letter to me."

"Now, just a moment," l'Forney shouts, in an irritated voice, "I was in my apartment all night last night, and could not have been outside to commit any murder!"

 

"Can you prove this?" asks the captain, suddenly. "Is there a witness to this?"

 

"Well..." l'Forney hesitates.

 

"Well?"

 

"Well, a lady was present with me."

 

"A lady?" asks the captain. "And, what is her name?"

 

"Madame Anne, Duchess d'Halluin!" interrupts d'Avaloy, with a sly grin.

 

"What! The marshal of France's daughter-in-law?" shouts the captain, in great disbelief. "No wonder you got the appointment into the Musketeers!"

 

This time it's d'Avaloy's turn to laugh under his breath.

 

"Doesn't anyone think that I could land that appointment upon my own merits?" asks l'Forney, in slight bewilderment – lifting his arms slightly in the air as he asked.

 

"No!" d'Avaloy and the captain shout at the same time.

 

"Not even a hesitation!" says l'Forney, looking back at his two friends, with a bit of disgust.

 

"I must summon Madame Anne, Duchess d'Halluin, to ask her to verify your story," continues the captain.

 

"Oh, sir – don’t do that!" yells out l'Forney.

 

"And, why not? You want to be freed from being the prime suspect in these murders, do you not?"

"Oh, yes, sir – I would. But, it's just that my relationship with madame is supposed to be a secret. She would just die if she knew that I was the cause of her being interrogated!"

 

"Well, in that case, there's no other thing that I can do but to imprison you."

 

"What? Now, hold on just a moment! You told me that you wouldn't imprison me, that you would write my new captain, instead."

 

"True. But, that was just because you ignored the edict against dueling."

 

"But you sent d’Avaloy off to duel with me!" insists l'Forney.

 

"No, sir," calmly replies the captain. "I sent him off to defend himself. But, what I am talking about now is a different matter entirely, for you are the prime suspect in a murder case. That is, you and your friend here," he adds, pointing out d'Ambry.

 

"Me?" yells out d'Ambry, in his turn. "What for?"

 

"You delivered that letter to d'Avaloy, did you not?"

 

"True. But, what does that have to do with anything?"

 

"You were at the scene of the crime on the night of the murder."

 

"Oh, this is too much!" says d'Ambry, dismayed, and waving his hands up in the air, also. Then he adds, while looking at l'Forney: "What have you gotten me into?"

 

"Shall I send for the Duchess d'Halluin, or not?" asks the captain of l'Forney, once again. "Or, just send you to prison now?"

 

There's hesitation once again.

 

"Well?"

 

"Oh – alright!" l'Forney concedes. "Besides," he adds, while looking at d'Avaloy, "It will give her a chance to prove to this lunatic that he's a fraud and a liar."

 

"I have heard Monsieur d'Avaloy called many things, sir," says the captain to him, "but a liar and a fraud he is not!"

 

"That remains to be seen," simply says l'Forney, looking about the room and trying to avoid the captain's eyes.

 

"You gentlemen wait in my antechamber until madame arrives," announces the captain, pointing out the direction.

 

****

 

The interlude spent in the waiting room of the captain's office goes by in silence, except for the daily rush of the messengers and soldiers doing their daily routine. The silence, though, is coming from the waiting gentlemen, who are sitting in uneasiness, awaiting the captain's orders. And, finally, after an hour had elapsed, the men are called back into the captain's office.

 

"I have just received word from the Duchess d'Halluin," the captain begins.

 

"Well, where is she?" desperately asks l'Forney.

 

"I was just about to tell you that she refuses to come. It would seem that I am now going to have to involve the marshal into this matter.

 

"What!" shouts l'Forney. "You mean her father-in-law, the marshal of France? Are you mad?"

At that statement, there's dead silence in the room.

 

"Sir," says the captain, glaring hard at l'Forney, "one more outburst from you in such a manner as this again, and you will be dealt with in a most embarrassing manner . . . Gentlemen, please wait a while longer in the antechamber."

 

****

 

And, as another hour passes, Captain des Essarts steps into the antechamber where the anxiously awaiting men are. "I do apologize for keeping you waiting, gentlemen. It would seem that the marshal was struck in the wrong way concerning my summons for him. He has asked me to meet with him in the king's chambers where we can discuss this in the presence of his majesty. I have also asked the captain of the Musketeers to be involved in this, as well."

 

What proceeds from l'Forney is a low groan. D'Avaloy looks at him and notices that he's turning very pale.

 

"Please, go home for now, sirs," the captain continues. "But, I would advise all of you not to leave the city until this matter is settled, else there would be the law to deal with. You two sirs," he says, addressing l'Forney's two friends, "will leave your address with my servant. Adieu, gentlemen."

 

At this, the captain walks back into his office.

 

D'Avaloy turns to his brother Arnaund. "Not a word about this to me concerning God, alright?"

 

Arnaund smiles. "Alright, brother. But, do you mind if I come home with you for a while? I do not have enough money to stay at an Inn."

 

"Of course, Arnaund," says d'Avaloy, while smiling. "You are always welcome."

 

At that last statement from D'Avaloy, Arnaund shoots him a quick glance of doubt, for his brother has never been this nice to him before. But, accepting the good natured welcome, he merely decides to follow his brother without question back to his apartment.