rt-collar high enough to make a large square patch of white on each
cheek. His black trousers covered his boots, the toes of which were
barely seen. He wore no decoration in his button-hole, and doeskin
gloves concealed his hands. Nothing about him betrayed to the eyes of
youth a peer of France, and one of the most useful statesmen in the
kingdom.

Pere Leger had never seen the count, who, on his side, knew the former
only by name. When the count, as he got into the carriage, cast the
glance about him which affronted Georges and Oscar, he was, in reality,
looking for the head-clerk of his notary (in case he had been forced,
like himself, to take Pierrotin's vehicle), intending to caution
him instantly about his own incognito. But feeling reassured by the
appearance of Oscar, and that of Pere Leger, and, above all, by the
quasi-military air, the waxed moustaches, and the general look of an
adventurer that distinguished Georges, he concluded that his note had
reached his notary, Alexandre Crottat, in time to prevent the departure
of the clerk.

"Pere Leger," said Pierrotin, when they reached the steep hill of the
faubourg Saint-Denis by the rue de la Fidelite, "suppose we get out,
hey?"

"I'll get out, too," said the count, hearing Leger's name.

"Goodness! if this is how we are going, we shall do fourteen miles in
fifteen days!" cried Georges.

"It isn't my fault," said Pierrotin, "if a passenger wishes to get out."

"Ten louis for you if you keep the secret of my being here as I told you
before," said the count in a low voice, taking Pierrotin by the arm.

"Oh, my thousand francs!" thought Pierrotin as he winked an eye at
Monsieur de Serizy, which meant, "Rely on me."

Oscar and Georges stayed in the coach.

"Look here, Pierrotin, since Pierrotin you are," cried Georges, when the
passengers were once more stowed away in the vehicle, "if you don't mean
to go faster than this, say so! I'll pay my fare and take a post-horse
at Saint-Denis, for I have important business on hand which can't be
delayed."

"Oh! he'll go well enough," said Pere Leger. "Besides, the distance
isn't great."

"I am never more than half an hour late," asserted Pierrotin.

"Well, you are not wheeling the Pope in this old barrow of yours," said
Georges, "so, get on."

"Perhaps he's afraid of shaking monsieur," said Mistigris looking round
at the count. "But you shouldn't have preferences, Pierrotin, it isn't
right."

"Coucous and th