ng.

CHAPTER XVI.

MONSEIGNEUR, WE ARE BRETONS.

Gaston remained in the room on the ground-floor, and dressed himself
carefully, as we have said, while Tapin continued his apprenticeship. By
the evening he knew how to measure a pint as well as his predecessor,
and even better; for he thought that in the compensation which would be
given to Bourguignon, waste would be considered, and that therefore the
less waste the better; so the morning's customer on her return got badly
served, and went off disgusted.

When his toilet was finished, Gaston began to inspect La Jonquiere's
library, and found it composed of three sets of books: theatrical books,
obscene books, and arithmetical books.

While he was thus engaged a man entered, introduced by Tapin, who went
out directly, and left him alone with Gaston. The man announced that
Captain La Jonquiere, not being able to return, had sent him in his
stead. Gaston demanding proof, the man showed a letter in the same terms
and the same writing as the specimen Gaston had received, and then the
half coin, after which Gaston made no difficulty as to following him,
and both got into a carefully closed carriage. They crossed the
Pont-Neuf, and, in the Rue du Bac, stopped at the courtyard of a
pavilion; then the man drew from his pocket the paper bearing the
chevalier's name as the third signal of recognition.

Gaston and his companion alighted, ascended the four steps of the
doorway, and entered a large circular corridor surrounding the pavilion.
Gaston looked round and saw that his guide had disappeared, and that he
was alone.

His heart beat quickly. He was about to face, not the tool, but the
master and originator of the whole plot, the representative of a king;
he was to play a kingdom against a kingdom.

A bell sounded within.

Gaston almost trembled. He looked in a glass and saw that he was pale; a
thousand new ideas assailed him; the door opened, and La Jonquiere
appeared.

"Come, chevalier," said he, "we are expected."

Gaston advanced with a firm step.

They found a man seated in an armchair, his back turned to the door. A
single light, placed on a table and covered with a shade, lighted only
the lower part of his body; his head and shoulders were in shadow.

Gaston thought the face noble, and understood at once that this was a
man of worth, and no La Jonquiere. The mouth was benevolent and the eyes
large, bold, and firm, like those of a king or a bird of