of his fathers are far more powerful incentives to
my humble labors than the bishopric of Rennes which you--"

The abbe dared say no more, for the marquis smiled bitterly at his last
words. However, the young chief instantly repressed all expression of
feeling, his brow grew stern, and he followed the Abbe Gudin into a hall
where the worst of the clamor was echoing.

"I recognize no authority here," Rifoel was saying, casting angry looks
at all about him and laying his hand on the hilt of his sabre.

"Do you recognize that of common-sense?" asked the marquis, coldly.

The young Chevalier de Vissard, better known under his patronymic of
Rifoel, was silent before the general of the Catholic armies.

"What is all this about, gentlemen?" asked the marquis, examining the
faces round him.

"This, monsieur le marquis," said a famous smuggler, with the
awkwardness of a man of the people who long remains under the yoke of
respect to a great lord, though he admits no barriers after he has once
jumped them, and regards the aristocrat as an equal only, "_this_," he
said, "and you have come in the nick of time to hear it. I am no speaker
of gilded phrases, and I shall say things plainly. I commanded five
hundred men during the late war. Since we have taken up arms again I
have raised a thousand heads as hard as mine for the service of the
king. It is now seven years that I have risked my life in the good
cause; I don't blame you, but I say that the laborer is worthy of
his hire. Now, to begin with, I demand that I be called Monsieur de
Cottereau. I also demand that the rank of colonel shall be granted me,
or I send in my adhesion to the First Consul! Let me tell you, monsieur
le marquis, my men and I have a devilishly importunate creditor who must
be satisfied--he's here!" he added, striking his stomach.

"Have the musicians come?" said the marquis, in a contemptuous tone,
turning to Madame du Gua.

But the smuggler had dealt boldly with an important topic, and the
calculating, ambitious minds of those present had been too long in
suspense as to what they might hope for from the king to allow the scorn
of their new leader to put an end to the scene. Rifoel hastily blocked
the way before Montauran, and seized his hand to oblige him to remain.

"Take care, monsieur le marquis," he said; "you are treating far too
lightly men who have a right to the gratitude of him whom you are here
to represent. We know that his Majesty has s