how long he is going to stay."

"Anicette thinks for some time; and she believes he is coming to meet
the gentleman who is now at the Mulet. They expect more company. The
coachman told me they were talking a great deal about the election.
Monsieur le president Michu is expected in a few days."

"Try to bring that lady's maid into town on pretence of shopping. Have
you any designs upon her?"

"If she has any savings I don't know but what I might. She is a sly one,
though."

"Tell her to come and see you at the sub-prefecture."

"Yes, monsieur. I'll go and tell her now."

"Don't say anything about me, or she might not come."

"Ah! monsieur; haven't I served at Gondreville?"

"You don't know why they sent that message from Cinq-Cygne at this hour,
do you? It is half-past nine o'clock."

"It must have been something pressing. The gentleman had only just
returned from Gondreville."

"Gondreville!--has he been to Gondreville?"

"He dined there, monsieur. If you went to the Mulet you'd laugh! The
little tiger is, saving your presence, as drunk as a fiddler. He drank
such a lot of champagne in the servants' hall that he can't stand on his
legs; they have been filling him for fun."

"And the count?"

"The count had gone to bed; but as soon as he received the letter he got
up. He is now dressing himself; and they are putting the horse in the
tilbury. The count is to spend the night at Cinq-Cygne."

"He must be some great personage."

"Oh, yes, monsieur; for Gothard, the steward of Cinq-Cygne, came this
morning to see his brother-in-law Poupart, and warned him to be very
discreet about the gentleman and to serve him like a king."

"Vinet must be right," thought the sub-prefect. "Can there be some cabal
on foot?"

"It was Duc Georges de Maufrigneuse who sent Gothard to the Mulet.
Poupart came to the meeting here this morning only because the gentleman
wished him to do so; if he had sent him to Paris, he'd go. Gothard told
Poupart to keep silent about the gentleman, and to fool all inquisitive
people."

"If you can get Anicette here, don't fail to let me know," said Antonin.

"But I could see her at Cinq-Cygne if monsieur would send me to his
house at Val-Preux."

"That's an idea. You might profit by the chariot to get there. But what
reason could you give to the little groom?"

"He's a madcap, that boy, monsieur. Would you believe it, drunk as he
is, he has just mounted his master's thoroughbred, a horse