l of your heirs in a second. Who are you?" he added, after a
pause.

"I am d'Orgemont, of Fougeres."

"Ah! ah!" cried the two Chouans.

"I didn't tell your name, Monsieur d'Orgemont," said Coupiau. "The Holy
Virgin is my witness that I did my best to protect you."

"Inasmuch as you are Monsieur d'Orgemont, of Fougeres," said
Marche-a-Terre, with an air of ironical respect, "we shall let you go in
peace. Only, as you are neither a good Chouan nor a true Blue (thought
it was you who bought the property of the Abbey de Juvigny), you
will pay us three hundred crowns of six francs each for your ransom.
Neutrality is worth that, at least."

"Three hundred crowns of six francs each!" chorussed the luckless
banker, Pille-Miche, and Coupiau, in three different tones.

"Alas, my good friend," continued d'Orgemont, "I'm a ruined man. The
last forced loan of that devilish Republic for a hundred millions sucked
me dry, taxed as I was already."

"How much did your Republic get out of you?"

"A thousand crowns, my dear man," replied the banker, with a piteous
air, hoping for a reduction.

"If your Republic gets forced loans out of you for such big sums as that
you must see that you would do better with us; our government would cost
you less. Three hundred crowns, do you call that dear for your skin?"

"Where am I to get them?"

"Out of your strong-box," said Pille-Miche; "and mind that the money is
forthcoming, or we'll singe you still."

"How am I to pay it to you?" asked d'Orgemont.

"Your country-house at Fougeres is not far from Gibarry's farm where my
cousin Galope-Chopine, otherwise called Cibot, lives. You can pay the
money to him," said Pille-Miche.

"That's not business-like," said d'Orgemont.

"What do we care for that?" said Marche-a-Terre. "But mind you remember
that if that money is not paid to Galope-Chopine within two weeks we
shall pay you a little visit which will cure your gout. As for
you, Coupiau," added Marche-a-Terre, "your name in future is to be
Mene-a-Bien."

So saying, the two Chouans departed. The traveller returned to the
vehicle, which, thanks to Coupiau's whip, now made rapid progress to
Fougeres.

"If you'd only been armed," said Coupiau, "we might have made some
defence."

"Idiot!" cried d'Orgemont, pointing to his heavy shoes. "I have ten
thousand francs in those soles; do you think I would be such a fool as
to fight with that sum about me?"

Mene-a-Bien scratched his ear and