good horse
between my knees and my sabre clanking against my stirrup-iron, than
have Monsieur Talleyrand's grand hotel in the Rue Saint Florentin, and
his hundred thousand livres of income.'

I was still wondering whether the hussar could be right, and if the
smile with which Duroc had greeted me could mean that the Emperor's
intentions towards me were friendly, when a very tall and handsome young
man, in a brilliant uniform, came towards me. In spite of the change in
his dress, I recognised him at once as the General Savary who had
commanded the expedition of the night before.

'Well, Monsieur de Laval,' said he, shaking hands with me very
pleasantly, 'you have heard, no doubt, that this fellow Toussac has
escaped us. He was really the only one whom we were anxious to seize,
for the other is evidently a mere dupe and dreamer. But we shall have
him yet, and between ourselves we shall keep a very strict guard upon
the Emperor's person until we do, for Master Toussac is not a man to be
despised.'

I seemed to feel his great rough thumb upon my chin as I answered that I
thought he was a very dangerous man indeed.

'The Emperor will see you presently,' said Savary. 'He is very busy
this morning, but he bade me say that you should have an audience.'
He smiled and passed on.

'Assuredly you are getting on,' whispered Gerard. 'There are a good
many men here who would risk something to have Savary address them as he
addressed you. The Emperor is certainly going to do something for you.
But attention, friend, for here is Monsieur de Talleyrand himself coming
towards us.'

A singular-looking person was shuffling in our direction. He was a man
about fifty years of age, largely made about the shoulders and chest,
but stooping a good deal, and limping heavily in one leg. He walked
slowly, leaning upon a silver-headed stick, and his sober suit of black,
with silk stockings of the same hue, looked strangely staid among the
brilliant uniforms which surrounded him. But in spite of his plain
dress there was an expression of great authority upon his shrewd face,
and every one drew back with bows and salutes as he moved across the tent.

'Monsieur Louis de Laval?' said he, as he stopped in front of me, and
his cold grey eyes played over me from head to heel.

I bowed, and with some coldness, for I shared the dislike which my
father used to profess for this unfrocked priest and perjured
politician; but his manner was so p