"Ah! they not only come for me, but they belong to me—still better. Well! we shall see," and piercing through the crowd, he opened his door, went upstairs, and appeared at his balcony, in which he placed a chair and sat down.
"Gentlemen," said he, "are you sure there is no mistake? is all this really for me?"
"Are you M. Robert Briquet?"
"Himself."
"Then we are at your service, monsieur," said the leader of the band, giving the sign to recommence.
"Certainly it is unintelligible," thought Chicot. He looked around; all the inhabitants of the street were at their windows, excepting those of the opposite house, which, as we have said, remained dark and quiet. But on glancing downward, he saw a man wrapped in a dark cloak, and who wore a black hat with a red feather, leaning against the portico of his own door, and looking earnestly at the opposite house.
The leader of the band just then quitted his post and spoke softly to this man, and Chicot instantly guessed that here lay all the interest of the scene. Soon after, a gentleman on horseback, followed by two squires, appeared at the corner of the street, and pushed his way through the crowd, while the music stopped.
"M. de Joyeuse," murmured Chicot, who recognized him at once.
The cavalier approached the gentleman under the balcony.
"Well! Henri," said he, "what news?"