amateurs of
imitative harmony.

This amusement lasted from the Barriere des Sergens to the place of
Notre Dame, and Friquet found in it very real enjoyment; but when at
last the regiment separated, penetrated the heart of the city and
placed itself at the extremity of the Rue Saint Christophe, near the Rue
Cocatrix, in which Broussel lived, then Friquet remembered that he had
not had breakfast; and after thinking in which direction he had better
turn his steps in order to accomplish this important act of the day, he
reflected deeply and decided that Councillor Broussel should bear the
cost of this repast.

In consequence he took to his heels, arrived breathlessly at the
councillor's door, and knocked violently.

His mother, the councillor's old servant, opened it.

"What doest thou here, good-for-nothing?" she said, "and why art thou
not at Notre Dame?"

"I have been there, mother," said Friquet, "but I saw things happen of
which Master Broussel ought to be warned, and so with Monsieur Bazin's
permission--you know, mother, Monsieur Bazin, the verger--I came to
speak to Monsieur Broussel."

"And what hast thou to say, boy, to Monsieur Broussel?"

"I wish to tell him," replied Friquet, screaming with all his might,
"that there is a whole regiment of guards coming this way. And as I hear
everywhere that at the court they are ill-disposed to him, I wish to
warn him, that he may be on his guard."

Broussel heard the scream of the young oddity, and, enchanted with this
excess of zeal, came down to the first floor, for he was, in truth,
working in his room on the second.

"Well," said he, "friend, what matters the regiment of guards to us, and
art thou not mad to make such a disturbance? Knowest thou not that it
is the custom of these soldiers to act thus and that it is usual for the
regiment to form themselves into two solid walls when the king goes by?"

Friquet counterfeited surprise, and twisting his new cap around in his
fingers, said:

"It is not astonishing for you to know it, Monsieur Broussel, who
knows everything; but as for me, by holy truth, I did not know it and I
thought I would give you good advice; you must not be angry with me for
that, Monsieur Broussel."

"On the contrary, my boy, on the contrary, I am pleased with your zeal.
Dame Nanette, look for those apricots which Madame de Longueville sent
to us yesterday from Noisy and give half a dozen of them to your son,
with a crust of new bread."