st Madeira; I will draw him out, and get all
the information he can give us about this fair inmate of his house."

A few minutes later the two young gentlemen entered the Armes de France,
and asked for Maitre Bilot. The worthy landlord came forward at once,
and himself conducted them into a cosy, well-lighted room on the ground
floor, where a bright fire was burning cheerily; he took the old, dusty
bottle, with cobwebs clinging about it, from the waiter's hands, drew
the cork very carefully, and then poured the amber wine, as clear as a
topaz, into the delicate Venetian glasses held out for it by the duke
and his companion, with a hand as steady as if it bad been of bronze.
In taking upon himself this office Maitre Bilot affected an almost
religious solemnity, as though he were a priest of Bacchus, officiating
at his altar, and about to celebrate the mysterious rites of the ancient
worshippers of that merry god; nothing was wanting but the crown of
vine leaves. He seemed to think that this ceremoniousness was a sort
of testimony to the superior quality of the wine from his well-stocked
cellar, which needed no recommendation, for it was really very good,
worthy of even a royal table, and of wide-spread fame.

Maitre Bilot, having finished his little performance, was about to
withdraw, when a significant glance from the duke made him pause
respectfully on the threshold.

"Maitre Bilot," said he, "fetch a glass for yourself from the buffet
there, and come and drink a bumper of this capital wine to my health."

This command, for such it was in reality, was instantly obeyed, and
after emptying his glass at a single draught, the well-pleased landlord
stood, with one hand resting on the table and his eyes fixed on the
duke, waiting to see, what was wanted of him.

"Have you many strangers in your house now?" asked Vallombreuse, "and
who and what are they?" Bilot was about to reply, but the young duke
interrupted him, and continued, "But what's the use of beating about the
bush with such a wily old miscreant as you are, Maitre Bilot? Who is
the lady that has the room with a window, the third one from the corner,
looking into my garden? Answer to the point, and you shall have a gold
piece for every syllable."

"Under those conditions," said Bilot, with a broad grin, "one must be
very virtuous indeed to make use of the laconic style so highly esteemed
by the ancients. However, as I am devoted to your lordship, I will
answer