The clerk of the Commissary produced the official seal, together with some long strips of parchment to bind them together, and assisted by Philippe they proceeded to attach them to everything of importance in the room. But whilst they were thus engaged, a confused murmur was heard in the court below, and Maître Picard, looking from the window, saw a carriage drive through the porte-cochère as hastily as the snow would permit. A man sprang from it, closed the door after him, and the next minute came up the staircase hurriedly, and almost forced his way into the room.
‘There is no admittance, monsieur,’ said the little bourgeois, presenting his halberd.
But the intruder was already in the centre of the chamber.
‘I am the valet of M. de Sainte-Croix, and my name is Lachaussée,’ he said. ‘I oppose this proceeding of sealing up his effects.’
‘On what grounds?’ asked the clerk, Frater.
‘Because there is much that is my own property,’ replied Lachaussée. ‘You will find one hundred pistoles, and the same number of silver crowns in a canvas bag, in that bureau. My master gave them to me, and promised still further to transfer three hundred livres to me. You will, without doubt, find that he has done so; if he has not, you may depend upon my word that everything is right which I have stated.’[19]
‘We do not doubt your word, monsieur,’ said the clerk; ‘but we cannot, at present, give up to you so much as a pin from this room. When the seals are broken by the authorities, whose servants we merely are, and under whose orders we now act, you may rest assured that the interests of no one will be overlooked.’
‘But this is such a trifle; you surely will not put me to such great inconvenience, for such it will be,’ answered Lachaussée, changing his tone.
‘We regret it,’ answered Maître Picard with much grandeur—now he had heard from Pierre Frater what he was to say; ‘we regret it; but, at present, the law is peremptory.’
‘If I have no influence with you,’ said Lachaussée, ‘I will bring hither one who, possibly, may have some.’