"What! was Dubois himself at the ambassador's?"
"In person, abbe. Imagine the Prince de Cellamare and I quietly sitting by the corner of the fire, taking out letters from a little casket, and burning those which seemed to deserve the honors of an autodafé, when all at once his valetdechambre enters, and announces that the hotel of the embassy is invested by a body of musketeers, and that Dubois and Leblanc wish to speak to him. The object of this visit is not difficult to guess. The princewithout taking the trouble to chooseempties the caskets into the fire, pushes me into a dressing closet, and orders that they shall be admitted. The order was useless. Dubois and Leblanc were at the door. Fortunately, neither one nor the other had seen me."
"Well, I see nothing droll as yet," said Brigaud.
"This is just where it begins," replied Valef. "Remember that I was in the closet, seeing and hearing everything. Dubois entered, and stretching out his weasel's head to watch the Prince de Cellamare, who, wrapped in his dressinggown, stood before the fire to give the papers time to burn.
"'Monsieur,' said the prince, in that phlegmatic manner you know he has, 'may I know to what event I owe the honor of this visit?'
"'Oh, mon Dieu, monseigneur!' said Dubois, 'to a very simple thinga desire which Monsieur Leblanc and I had to learn a little of your papers, of which,' added he, showing the letters of Philip V., 'these two patterns have given us a foretaste.'"
"How!" said Brigaud, "these letters seized at ten o'clock at Versailles are in Dubois's hands at one o'clock!"
"As you say, abbe. You see that they traveled faster than if they had been put in the post."
"And what did the prince say then?" asked D'Harmental.
"Oh! the prince wished to carry it off with a high hand, by appealing to his rights as an envoy; but Dubois, who is not wanting in a certain logic, showed him that he had himself somewhat violated these rights, by covering the conspiracy with his ambassador's cloak. In short, as he was the weakest, he was obliged to submit to what he could not prevent. Besides, Leblanc, without asking permission, had already opened the desk, and examined its contents, while Dubois drew out the drawers of a bureau and rummaged in them. All at once Cellamare left his place, and stopping Leblanc, who had just taken a packet of papers tied with red ribbon
"'Pardon, monsieur,' said he, 'to each one his prerogatives. These are ladies' letters.'
"'Thanks for your confidence,' said Dubois, not in the least disconcerted, but rising and taking the papers from the hand of Leblanc, 'I am accustomed to these sort of secrets, and yours shall be well kept.'
BUVAT FOUND HIMSELF IN A SORT OF LABORATORY, SITUATED ON THE GROUNDFLOOR.
"At this moment, looking toward the fire, he sawin the midst of the burned lettersa paper still untouched, and darting toward it, he seized it just as the flames were reaching it. The movement was so rapid that the ambassador could not prevent it, and the paper was in Dubois's hands.
"'Peste!' said the prince, seeing Dubois shaking his fingers, 'I knew that the regent had skillful spies, but I did not know that they were brave enough to go in the fire.'
"'Peste!' said the prince, seeing Dubois shaking his fingers, 'I knew that the regent had skillful spies, but I did not know that they were brave enough to go in the fire.'
"'Ma foi! prince,' said Dubois, unfolding the paper, 'they are well rewarded for their bravery, see.'
"The prince cast his eyes over the paper; I do not know what it contained, but I know that the prince turned pale as death; and that, as Dubois burst out laughing, Cellamare broke in pieces a little marble statue which was near his hand.
"'I am glad it was not I,' said Dubois, coldly, and putting the paper in his pocket.
"'Every one in turn, monsieur; Heaven is just!' said the ambassador.
"'Meanwhile,' said Dubois, 'as we have got what we wanted, and have not much time to lose today, we will set about affixing the seals.'
"'The seals here!' cried the ambassador, exasperated.
"'With your permission,' replied Dubois; 'proceed, Monsieur Leblanc.'
"Leblanc drew out from a bag bands and wax, all ready prepared. They began operations with the desk and the bureau, then they advanced toward the door of my closet.
"'No,' cried the prince, 'I will not permit'
"'Gentlemen,' said Dubois, opening the door, and introducing into the room two officers of musketeers, 'the ambassador of Spain is accused of high treason against the State. Have the kindness to accompany him to the carriage which is waiting, and take himyou know where; if he resists, call eight men, and take him by force.'"
"Well, and what did the prince do then?" asked Brigaud.
"What you would have done in his place, I presume, my dear abbe. He followed the two officers, and five minutes afterward your humble servant found himself under seal."
"How the devil did you get out?" cried D'Harmental.
"That is the beauty of it. Hardly was the prince gone, when Dubois called the valetdechambre.
"'What are you called?' asked Dubois.
"'Lapierre, at your service, monseigneur.'
"'My dear Leblanc,' said Dubois, 'explain, if you please, to Monsieur Lapierre, what are the penalties for breaking seals.'
"'The galleys,' replied Leblanc.
"'My dear Monsieur Lapierre,' continued Dubois, in a mild tone, 'you hear. If you like to spend a few years rowing on one of his majesty's vessels, touch one of these seals and the affair is done. If, on the contrary, a hundred louis are agreeable to you, keep them faithfully, and in three days the money shall be given you.'
"'I prefer the hundred louis,' said the scoundrel.
"'Well, then, sign this paper. We constitute you guardian of the prince's cabinet.'
"'I am at your orders, monseigneur,' replied Lapierre; and he signed.
"'Now,' said Dubois, 'you understand all the responsibility you have undertaken?'
"'Yes, monseigneur.'
"'And submit to it.'
"'I do.'
"'Now, Leblanc,' said Dubois, 'we have nothing further to do here, and,' added he, showing the paper which he had snatched from the fire, 'I have all I wanted.'
"And at these words he left, followed by Leblanc.
"Lapierre, as soon as he had seen them off, ran to the cabinet, and exclaimed, 'Quick, baron, we must profit by our being alone for you to leave.'
"'Did you know I was here then, fellow?'
"'Pardieu! I should not have accepted the office of guardian if I had not. I saw you go in, and I thought you would not like to stay there for three days.'
"'And you were right; a hundred louis for your good idea.'
"'Mon Dieu! what are you doing?' cried Lapierre.
"'I am trying to get out.'
"'Oh, not by the door! You would not send a poor fellow to the galleys; besides, they have taken the key with them.'
"'And where am I to get out, then?'
"'Raise your head.'
"'It is raised.'
"'Look in the air.'
"'I am looking.'
"'To your right. Do you not see anything?'
"'Yes, a little window.'
"'Well, get on a chair, on anything you find; it opens into the alcove, let yourself slip now, you will fall on the bedthat is it. You have not hurt yourself, monsieur?'
"'No, I hope the prince will have as comfortable a bed where they are taking him.'
"'And I hope monsieur will not forget the service I have rendered him.'
"'Oh, the hundred louis? Well, as I do not want to part with money at this moment, take this ring, it is worth three hundred pistolesyou gain six hundred francs on the bargain.'
"'Monsieur is the most generous gentleman I know.'
"'Now, tell me how I must go.'
"'By this little staircase; you will find yourself in the pantry; you must then go through the kitchen into the garden, and go out by the little door.'
"'Thanks for the itinerary.'
"I followed the instructions of Monsieur Lapierre exactly, and here I am."
"And the prince; where is he?" asked the chevalier.
"How do I know? In prison probably."
"Diable! diable! diable!" said Brigaud.
"Well, what do you say to my Odyssey, abbe?"
"I say that it would be very droll if it was not for that cursed paper which Dubois picked out of the cinders."
"Yes," said Valef, "that spoils it."
"And you have not any idea what it could be?"
"Not the least; but never mind, it is not lost, we shall know some day."
At this moment they heard some one coming up the staircase. The door opened, and Boniface appeared.
"Pardon, Monsieur Raoul," said he, "but it is not you I seek, it is Father Brigaud."
"Never mind, my dear Boniface, you are welcome. Baron, allow me to present you to my predecessor in my room. The son of our worthy landlady, and godson of the Abbe Brigaud."
"Oh, you have friends barons, Monsieur Raoul! what an honor for our house!"
"Well," said the abbe, "you were looking for me you said. What do you want?"
"I want nothing. It was my mother who sent for you."
"What does she want? Do you know?"
"She wants to know why the parliament is to assemble tomorrow."
"The parliament assemble tomorrow!" cried Valef and D'Harmental together.
"And how did your mother know?"
"I told her."
"And how did you know?"
"At the office. Maitre Joullu was with the president when the order arrived."
"Well, tell your mother I will come to her directly."
"She will expect you. Adieu, Monsieur Raoul."
And Monsieur Boniface went out, far from suspecting the effect he had produced on his listeners.
"It is some coupd'état which is preparing," murmured D'Harmental.
"I will go to Madame de Maine to warn her," said Valef.
"And I to Pompadour for news," said Brigaud.
"And I," said D'Harmental, "remain here; if I am wanted, abbe, you know where I am."
"But if you were not at home, chevalier?"
"Oh! I should not be far off. Open the window, clap your hands, and I should come."
Valef and Brigaud went away together, and D'Harmental went back to Bathilde, whom he found very uneasy. It was five o'clock in the afternoon, and Buvat had not returnedit was the first time such a thing had ever happened.
Chapter XXXIV
Parliamentary Justice
The following day, about seven o'clock in the morning, Brigaud came to fetch D'Harmental, and found the young man ready and waiting. They both wrapped themselves in their cloaks, drew down their hats over their eyes, and proceeded through the Rue de Cléry, the Place des Victoires, and the garden of the Palais Royal.