IN LA JONQUIERE.--Page 463.]

"Under orders."

"That is my case."

"And you are waiting?"

"For a man who is coming."

"With a watchword?"

"And on this watchword?"

"I am to obey as though it were Tapin himself."

"Just so; and, in the mean time, I have a pistole for drink."

"I have a pistole also, but I was not told to drink."

"And it being doubtful?"

"In doubt, as the sage says, I do not abstain."

"In that case, let us drink."

And he raised his hand to call the landlord, but it was not necessary,
for he was standing near, expecting orders.

"Some wine," cried the two guards.

"Orleans," added one; "I like that."

The landlord brought an inclosed bottle.

The two drinkers filled their glasses, emptied them, and then placed
them on the table, each with a different grimace, but both intended to
express the same opinion.

When the host was gone, one said to the other:

"You know more of this than you have told me?"

"I know it concerns a certain captain," answered the other.

"Yes; just so. But I suppose we shall have aid to arrest him?"

"Doubtless; two to one is not enough."

"You forget the man with the watchword."

"Ah! I think I hear something."

"Yes; some one coming downstairs."

"Chut!"

"Silence!"

And the soldiers, much more occupied by their commission than if they
had really been soldiers, kept an eye turned toward the staircase while
they drunk.

They were not deceived; the step on the staircase approached, and they
saw, first, some legs, then a body, then a head descending. The legs
were covered with fine silk stockings and white cashmere breeches, the
body with a tight blue coat, and the head with a three-cornered hat,
jauntily placed over one ear; his epaulets left no doubt that he held
the rank of captain.

This man, who was, in fact, Captain la Jonquiere, was about five feet
five, rather fat, and had a sagacious air; one would almost have
supposed that he suspected spies in the two soldiers, for he turned his
back to them at once, and entered into conversation with his host in a
somewhat assumed tone and manner.

"In truth," said he, "I should have dined here, and this delicious
perfume of stewed kidneys would have tempted me, but some bons vivants
are expecting me at the 'Galoubet de Paphos.' Perhaps a young man may
come here this morning, but I could not wait any longer. Should he ask
for a hundred pistoles, say that I shall be back in an hour, if he wil