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stranger　would　bring　them　into　trouble。　　The　treasurer；　who　had　no　love　affair　on　hand；　went　off；　but　the　commander　bravely　held　his　ground；　and　at　the　end　of　five　or　six　days；　during　which　no　one　disturbed　him；　began　to　think　the　only　result　of　the　incident　would　be　the　anxiety　it　had　caused　him。

Every　evening　as　soon　as　it　was　dark　he　betook　himself　to　the　doctor's；　wrapped　in　his　cloak；　armed　to　the　teeth；　and　his　hat　pulled　down　over　his　eyes。　　For　two　days　and　nights；　Charlotte；　whom　to　avoid　confusion　we　shall　continue　to　call　the　Chevalier　de　Moranges；　hovered　between　life　and　death。　　Her　youth　and　the　strength　of　her　constitution　enabled　her　at　last　to　overcome　the　fever；　in　spite　of　the　want　of　skill　of　the　surgeon　Perregaud。

Although　de　Jars　was　the　only　person　who　visited　the　chevalier；　he　was　not　the　only　one　who　was　anxious　about　the　patient's　health。　Maitre　Quennebert；　or　men　engaged　by　him　to　watch；　for　he　did　not　want　to　attract　attention；　were　always　prowling　about　the　neighbourhood；　so　that　he　was　kept　well　informed　of　everything　that　went　on：　The　instructions　he　gave　to　these　agents　were；　that　if　a　funeral　should　leave　the　house；　they　were　to　find　out　the　name　of　the　deceased；　and　then　to　let　him　know　without　delay。　　But　all　these　precautions　seemed　quite　useless：　he　always　received　the　same　answer　to　all　his　questions；　〃We　know　nothing。〃　　So　at　last　he　determined　to　address　himself　directly　to　the　man　who　could　give　him　information　on　which　he　could　rely。

One　night　the　commander　left　the　surgeon's　feeling　more　cheerful　than　usual；　for　the　chevalier　had　passed　a　good　day；　and　there　was　every　hope　that　he　was　on　the　road　to　complete　recovery。　　Hardly　had　de　Jars　gone　twenty　paces　when　someone　laid　a　hand　on　his　shoulder。　　He　turned　and　saw　a　man　whom；　in　the　darkness；　he　did　not　recognise。

〃Excuse　me　for　detaining　you；　Commander　de　Jars；〃　said　Quennebert；　〃but　I　have　a　word　to　say　to　you。〃

〃Ali！　so　it's　you；　sir；〃　replied　the　commander。　　〃Are　you　going　at　last　to　give　me　the　opportunity　I　was　so　anxious　for？〃

〃I　don't　understand。〃

〃We　are　on　more　equal　terms　this　time；　to…day　you　don't　catch　me　unprepared；　almost　without　weapons；　and　if　you　are　a　man　of　honour　you　will　measure　swords　with　me。〃

〃Fight　a　duel　with　you！　why；　may　I　ask？　　You　have　never　insulted　me。〃

〃A　truce　to　pleasantry；　sir；　don't　make　me　regret　that　I　have　shown　myself　more　generous　than　you。　　I　might　have　killed　you　just　now　had　I　wished。　　I　could　have　put　my　pistol　to　your　breast　and　fired；　or　said　to　you；　'Surrender　at　discretion！'　as　you　so　lately　said　to　me。〃

〃And　what　use　would　that　have　been？〃

〃It　would　have　made　a　secret　safe　that　you　ought　never　to　have　known。〃

〃It　would　have　been　the　most　unfortunate　thing　for　you　that　could　have　happened；　for　if　you　had　killed　me　the　paper　would　have　spoken。　So！　　you　think　that　if　you　were　to　assassinate　me　you　would　only　have　to　stoop　over　my　dead　body　and　search　my　pockets；　and；　having　found　the　incriminating　document；　destroy　it。　　You　seem　to　have　formed　no　very　high　opinion　of　my　intelligence　and　common　sense。　　You　of　the　upper　classes　don't　need　these　qualities；　the　law　is　on；　your　side。　But　when　a　humble　individual　like　myself；　a　mere　nobody；　undertakes　to　investigate　a　piece　of　business　about　which　those　in　authority　are　not　anxious　to　be　enlightened；　precautions　are　necessary。　　It's　not　enough　for　him　to　have　right　on　his　side；　he　must；　in　order　to　secure　his　own　safety；　make　good　use　of　his　skill；　courage；　and　knowledge。　I　have　no　desire　to　humiliate　you　a　second　time；　so　I　will　say　no　more。　　The　paper　is　in　the　hands　of　my　notary；　and　if　a　single　day　passes　without　his　seeing　me　he　has　orders　to　break　the　seal　and　make　the　contents　public。　　So　you　see　chance　is　still　on　my　side。　　But　now　that　you　are　warned　there　is　no　need　for　me　to　bluster。　　I　am　quite　prepared　to　acknowledge　your　superior　rank；　and　if　you　insist　upon　it；　to　speak　to　you　uncovered。〃

〃What　do　you　desire　to　know；　sir？〃

〃How　is　the　Chevalier　de　Moranges　getting　on？〃

〃Very　badly；　very　badly。〃

〃Take　care；　commander；　don't　deceive　me。　　One　is　so　easily　tempted　to　believe　what　one　hopes；　and　I　hope　so　strongly　that　I　dare　not　believe　what　you　say。　　I　saw　you　coming　out　of　the　house；　not　at　all　with　the　air　of　a　man　who　had　just　heard　bad　news；　（quite　the　contrary：　you　looked　at　the　sky；　and　rubbed　your　hands；　and　walked　with　a　light；　quick　step；　that　did　not　speak　of　grief。〃

〃You're　a　sharp　observer；　sir。〃

〃I　have　already　explained　to　you；　sir；　that　when　one　of　us　belonging　to　a　class　hardly　better　than　serfs　succeeds　by　chance　or　force　of　character　in　getting　out　of　the　narrow　bounds　in　which　he　was　born；　he　must　keep　both　eyes　and　ears　open。　　If　I　had　doubted　your　word　as　you　have　doubted　mine　on　the　merest　suspicion；　you　would　have　said　to　your　servants；　'Chastise　this　rascal。'　　But　I　am　obliged　to　prove　to　you　that　you　did　not　tell　me　the　truth。　　Now　I　am　sure　that　the　chevalier　is　out　of　danger。〃

〃If　you　were　so　well　informed　why　did　you　ask　me？〃

〃I　only　knew　it　by　your　asserting　the　contrary。〃

〃What　do　you　mean？〃　cried　de　Jars；　who　was　growing　restive　under　this　cold；　satirical　politeness。

〃Do　me　justice；　commander。　　The　bit　chafes；　but　yet　you　must　acknowledge　that　I　have　a　light　hand。　　For　a　full　week　you　have　been　in　my　power。　　Have　I　disturbed　your　quiet？　　Have　I　betrayed　your　secret？　　You　know　I　have　not。　　And　I　shall　continue　to　act　in　the　same　manner。　　I　hope　with　all　my　heart；　however　great　would　be　your　grief；　that　the　chevalier　may　die　of　his　wound。　　I　have　not　the　same　reasons　for　loving　him　that　you　have；　so　much　you　can　readily　understand；　even　if　I　do　not　explain　the　cause　of　my　interest　in　his　fate。　　But　in　such　a　matter　hopes　count　for　nothing；　they　cannot　make　his　temperature　either　rise　or　fall。　　I　have　told　you　I　have　no　wish　to　force　the　chevalier　to　resume　his　real　name。　　I　may　make　use　of　the　document　and　I　may　not；　but　if　I　am　obliged　to　use　it　I　shall　give　you　warning。　　Will　you；　in　return；　swear　to　me　upon　your　honour　that　you　will　keep　me　informed　as　to　the　fate　of　the　chevalier；　whether　you　remain　in　Paris　or　whether　you　leave？　　But　let　this　agreement　be　a　secret　between　us；　and　do　not　mention　it　to　the　so…called　Moranges。〃

〃I　have　your　oath；　monsieur；　that　you　will　give　me　notice　before　you　use　the　document　I　have　given　you　against　me；　have　I？　　But　what　guarantee　have　I　that　you　will　keep　your　word？〃

〃My　course　of　action　till　to…day；　and　the　fact　that　I　have　pledged　you　my　word　of　my　own　free　will。〃

〃I　see；　you　hope　not　to　have　long　to　wait　for　the　end。〃

〃I　hope　not；　but　meantime　a　premature　disclosure　would　do　me　as　much　harm　as　you。　　I　have　not　the　slightest　rancour　against　you；　commander；　you　have　robbed　me　of　no　treasure；　I　have　therefore　no　compensation　to　demand。　　What　you　place　such　value　on　would　be　only　a　burden　to　me；　as　it　will　be　to　you　later　on。　　All　I　want　is；　to　know　as　soon　as　it　is　no　longer　in　your　possession；　whether　it　has　been　removed　by　the　will　of　God　or　by　your　own；　I　am　right　in　thinking　that　to…day　there　is　some　hope　of　the　chevalier's　recovery；　am　I　not？〃

〃Yes；　Sir；〃

〃Do　you　give　me　your　promise　that　if　ever　he　leave　this　house　safe　and　sound　you　will　let　me　know？〃

〃I　give　you　my　promise；〃

〃And　if　the　result　should　be　different；　you　will　also　send　me　word？〃

〃Certainly。　　But　to　whom　shall　I　address　my　message？〃

〃I　should　have　thought　that　since　our　first　meeting　you　would　have　found　out　all　about　me；　and　that　to　tell　you　my　name　would　be　superfluous。　　But　I　have　no　reason　to　hide　it：　Maitre　Quennebert；　notary；　Saint…Denis。　　I　will　not　detain　you　any　longer　now；　commander；　excuse　a　simple　citizen　for　dictating　conditions　to　a　noble　such　as　you。　　For　once　chance　has　been　on　my　side　although　a　score　of　times　it　has　gone　against　me。

De　Jars　made　no　reply　except　a　nod；　and　walked　away　quickly；　muttering　words　of　suppressed　anger　between　his　teeth　at　all　the　humiliations　to　which　he　had　been　obliged　to　submit　so　meekly。

〃He's　as　insolent　as　a　varlet　who　has　no　fear　of　a　larruping　before　his　eyes：　how　the　rapscallion　gloried　in　taking　advantage　of　his　position！　　Taking…off　his　hat　while　putting　his　foot　on　my　neck！　　If　ever　I　can　be　even　with　you；　my　worthy　scrivener；　you'll　pass　a　very　bad　quarter　of　an　hour；　I　can　tell　you。〃

Everyone　has　his　own　idea　of　what　constitutes　perfect　honour。　　De　Jars；　for　instance；　would　have　allowed　himself　to　be　cut　up　into　little　pieces　rather　than　have　broken　the　promise　he　had　given　Quennebert　a　week　ago；　because　it　was　given　in　exchange　for　his　life；　and　the　slightest　paltering　with　his　word　under　those　circumstances　would　have　been　dastardly。　　But　the　engagement　into　which　he　had　just　entered　had　in　his　eyes　no　such　moral　sanction；　he　had　not　been　forced　into　it　by　threats；　he　had　escaped　by　its　means　no　serious　danger；　and　therefore　in　regard　to　it　his　conscience　was　much　more　accommodating。　　What　he　should　best　have　liked　to　do；　would　have　been　to　have　sought　out　the　notary　and　provoked　him　by　insults　to　send　him　a　challenge。

That　a　clown　such　as　that　could　have　any　chance　of　leaving　the　ground　alive　never　entered　his　head。　　But　willingly　as　he　would　have　encompassed　his　death　in　this　manner；　the　knowledge　that　his　secret　would　not　die　with　Quennebert　restrained　him；　for　when　everything　came　out　he　felt　that　the　notary's　death　would　be　regarded　as　an　aggravation　of　his　original　offence；　and　in　spite　of　his　rank　he　was　not　at　all　certain　that　if　he　were　put　on　his　trial　even　now　he　would　escape　scot　free；　much　less　if　a　new　offence　were　added　to　the　indictment。　　So；　however　much　he　might　chafe　against　the　bit；　he　felt　he　must　submit　to　the　bridle。

〃By　God！〃　said　he；　〃I　know　what　the　clodhopper　is　after；　and　even　if　I　must　suffer　in　consequence；　I　shall　take　good　care　that　he　cannot　shake　off　his　bonds。　　Wait　a　bit！　　I　can　play　the　detective　too；　and　be　down　on　him　without　letting　him　see　the　hand　that　deals　the　blows。　It'll　be　a　wonder　if　I　can't　find　a　naked　sword　to　suspend　above　his　head。〃

However；　while　thus　brooding　over　projects　of　vengeance；　Commander　de　Jars　kept　his　word；　and　about　a　month　after　the　interview　above　related　he　sent　w