The Order at his neck.
With a wave of his hand Le Brusquet presented me to the stranger, whom
I found was M. de Lorgnac, the lieutenant of the Queen's guard--he in
whose house Pierrebon had obtained shelter.

I thanked him for the kindness he had shown in this, to one so utterly
unknown as I was to him; but he stayed me with a smile, saying that in
this or any other matter I could command him, as the friend of Le
Brusquet, and went on to pay me a handsome compliment in regard to the
affair of the previous night.

"An affair that is like to place me on the road to Montfaucon," I said
a little bitterly.

"On the contrary," replied De Lorgnac, "rather, perhaps, on the road to
better things."

"Hearken not unto him!" said Le Brusquet; "he is for ever looking out
for recruits for his guard. Blaise de Lorgnac is as insatiable a
stirrer of the porridge of the times as I; only I use a longer ladle,
as beseems a person of my wisdom. As for you, _mon ami_ Blaise,--you
throw your lures in vain! Know you that Monsieur Broussel is a
philosopher, who has found contentment in--fifty ecus a year, did you
not say, monsieur?" And, reaching for his lute, he ran his fingers
over the strings and began to sing:

"Mes amis, la terre est a moi.
J'ai de quoi
Vivre en roi
Si l'eclat me tente.
Les honneurs me sont devolus
J'ai cinquante ecus,
J'ai cinquante ecus,
J'ai cinquante ecus de."

"_Mille tonnerres_! Stop! Do you want to bring half the Louvre here
to listen?" And De Lorgnac placed his hand over the singer's mouth,
and took the lute from him.

"Enough!" said Le Brusquet; "you have banished the inspiration. I sing
no more. And as for you, Monsieur Blaise, take yourself off with that
long sword of yours. It frightens the ape, and I have that to say
which is for M. Broussel's ear alone."

"_Au revoir_!" said Lorgnac, but as he reached the door he turned to me.

"Your Pierrebon is safe and sound in the Rue Tire Boudin. He has
received orders not to stir forth. In the matter of the horses--you
must let that be my care." And without waiting for reply he went away.

"I know not how to thank M. de Lorgnac or you----" I began, but Le
Brusquet cut in:

"As yet the thanks are due from me, and Lorgnac is helping me to pay my
debts. And now listen, _mon ami_. One half the world consists of
fools who give advice, and the other half of idiots who refuse to
benefit by it; let me for o