Buvat thought he should faint, he felt his legs fail him, and leaned against a wall.
"What is the matter, monsieur?" asked his guide.
"Pardon, monsieur," murmured Buvat, "but who is the person to whom I have just had the honor of speaking?"
"Monseigneur the Regent in person."
"Not possible!"
"Not only possible, but true."
"What! it was the regent himself who promised to pay me my arrears?"
"I do not know what he promised you, but I know that the person who gave me the order to accompany you was the regent."
"But he told me he was called Philippe."
"Well, he is—Philippe d'Orleans."