Now was my time. I took a hundred-franc note out of my pocket and held it in my hand so that he could see the figures on it. I hoped that he would not be exorbitant, for I had but one more and some loose napoleons in my pocket.

“What was the conversation about?” I asked.

He put out his hand for the note; but I kept my grasp on it. Honesty was not written large—no, nor plain to read—on Bontet’s fat face.

“I heard little of it; but the young lady said, as they hurried upstairs: ‘Where is he? Where is he?’”

“Yes, yes!”

And I held out the note to him. He had earned it. And greedily he clutched it, and stowed it in his breeches pocket under his blouse.

“I heard no more; they hurried her up; the old lady had her by one arm and the duke by the other. She looked distressed—why, I know not; for I suppose”—here a sly grin spread over the fellow’s face—“that the pretty present I saw is for her.”

“It’s the property of the duke,” I said.

“But gentlemen sometimes make presents to ladies,” he suggested.

“It may be his purpose to do so. Bontet, I want to see the young lady.”

He laughed insolently, kicking his toe against the wall.

“What use, unless you have a better present,