stry or at the Prefecture."

Contenson went back to a post near the carriage in which Monsieur de
Nucingen was waiting for Peyrade.

"I am Monsieur de Saint-Germain," said Peyrade to the Baron, raising
himself to look over the carriage door.

"Ver' goot; get in mit me," replied the Baron, ordering the coachman to
go on slowly to the Arc de l'Etoile.

"You have been to the Prefecture of Police, Monsieur le Baron? That was
not fair. Might I ask what you said to M. le Prefet, and what he said in
reply?" asked Peyrade.

"Before I should gif fife hundert francs to a filain like Contenson, I
vant to know if he had earned dem. I simply said to the Prefet of Police
dat I vant to employ ein agent named Peyrate to go abroat in a delicate
matter, an' should I trust him--unlimited!--The Prefet telt me you vas a
very clefer man an' ver' honest man. An' dat vas everything."

"And now that you have learned my true name, Monsieur le Baron, will you
tell me what it is you want?"

When the Baron had given a long and copious explanation, in his hideous
Polish-Jew dialect, of his meeting with Esther and the cry of the man
behind the carriage, and his vain efforts, he ended by relating what had
occurred at his house the night before, Lucien's involuntary smile,
and the opinion expressed by Bianchon and some other young dandies that
there must be some acquaintance between him and the unknown fair.

"Listen to me, Monsieur le Baron; you must, in the first instance, place
ten thousand francs in my hands, on account for expenses; for, to
you, this is a matter of life or death; and as your life is a
business-manufactory, nothing must be left undone to find this woman for
you. Oh, you are caught!----"

"Ja, I am caught!"

"If more money is wanted, Baron, I will let you know; put your trust in
me," said Peyrade. "I am not a spy, as you perhaps imagine. In 1807 I
was Commissioner-General of Police at Antwerp; and now that Louis XVIII.
is dead, I may tell you in confidence that for seven years I was the
chief of his counter-police. So there is no beating me down. You
must understand, Monsieur le Baron, that it is impossible to make any
estimate of the cost of each man's conscience before going into the
details of such an affair. Be quite easy; I shall succeed. Do not fancy
that you can satisfy me with a sum of money; I want something for my
reward----"

"So long as dat is not a kingtom!" said the Baron.

"It is less than nothing to yo