g, then, Monsieur de
Mouy?"

"Yes, monseigneur, for time presses. Until this evening. But where shall
I see you, if you please?"

"At the Louvre, here in this room; does that suit you?"

"Is this occupied?" said De Mouy, glancing at the two beds opposite each
other.

"By two of my gentlemen, yes."

"Monseigneur, it seems to me imprudent to return to the Louvre."

"Why so?"

"Because if you have recognized me, others also may have as good eyes as
your highness, and may recognize me. However, I will return to the
Louvre if you will grant me what I am about to ask of you."

"What is that?"

"A passport."

"A passport from me found on you would ruin me and would not save you. I
can do nothing for you unless in the eyes of the world we are strangers
to each other; the slightest relation between us, noticed by my mother
or my brother, would cost me my life. You were therefore protected by my
interest for myself from the moment I compromised myself with the
others, as I am now compromising myself with you. Free in my sphere of
action, strong if I am unknown, so long as I myself remain impenetrable,
I will guarantee you everything. Do not forget this. Make a fresh appeal
to your courage, therefore. Try on my word of honor what you tried
without the word of honor of my brother. Come this evening to the
Louvre."

"But how do you wish me to come? I can not venture in these rooms in my
present uniform--it is for the vestibules and the courts. My own is
still more dangerous, since everyone knows me here, and since it in no
way disguises me."

"Therefore I will look--wait--I think that--yes, here it is."

The duke had looked around him, and his eyes stopped at La Mole's
clothes, thrown temporarily on the bed; that is, on the magnificent
cherry-colored cloak embroidered in gold, of which we have already
spoken; on a cap ornamented with a white plume surrounded by a rope of
gold and silver marguerites, and finally on a pearl-gray satin and gold
doublet.

"Do you see this cloak, this plume, and this doublet?" said the duke;
"they belong to Monsieur de la Mole, one of my gentlemen, a fop of the
highest type. The cloak was the rage at court, and when he wore it,
Monsieur de la Mole was recognized a hundred feet away. I will give you
the address of the tailor who made it for him. By paying him double what
it is worth, you will have one exactly like it by this evening. You will
remember the name of Monsieur de la Mole, w