But
on my repeating the order he thrust his hand into his breast, and
producing a parcel began to unfasten it. This he did so slowly that I
was soon for thinking that there was no watch in it; but in the end he
found one and handed it to me.

"You did not make this," I said, opening it.

"No, my lord," he answered; "it is German, and old."

I saw that it was of excellent workmanship, and I was about to hand it
back to him, almost persuaded that I had made a mistake, when in a
second my doubts were solved. Engraved on the thick end of the egg,
and partly erased by wear, was a dog's head, which I knew to be the
crest of the Perrots.

"So," I said, preparing to return it to him, "you are a clockmaker?"

"Yes, your excellency," he muttered. And I thought that I caught the
sound of a sigh of relief.

I gave the watch to Maignan to hand to him. "Very well," I said. "I
have need of one. The clock in the next room--a gift from his
Majesty--is out of order, and at a standstill. You can go and attend
to it; and see that you do so skilfully. And do you, Maignan," I
continued with meaning, "go with him. When he has made the clock go,
let him go; and not before, or you answer for it. You understand,
sirrah?"

Maignan saluted obsequiously, and in a moment hurried young Perrot from
the room; leaving me to congratulate myself on the strange and
fortuitous circumstance that had thrown him in my way, and enabled me
to guard against a RENCONTRE that might have had the most embarassing
consequences.

It required no great sagacity to foresee the next move; and I was not
surprised when, about an hour later, I heard a clatter of hoofs
outside, and a voice inquiring hurriedly for the Marquis de Rosny. One
of my people announced M. de Perrot, and I bade them admit him. In a
twinkling he came up, pale with heat, and covered with dust, his eyes
almost starting from his head and his cheeks trembling with agitation.
Almost before the door was shut, he cried out that we were undone.

I was willing to divert myself with him for a time, and I pretended to
know nothing. "What?" I said, rising. "Has the King met with an
accident?"

"Worse! worse!" he cried, waving his hat with a gesture of despair.
"My son--you saw my son yesterday?"

"Yes," I said.

"He overheard us!"

"Not us," I said drily. "You. But what then, M. de Perrot? You are
master in your own house."

"But he is not in my house," he wailed. "He has gon