CHAPTER XXXII.
BROTHER BORROMÉE.
It was about ten o'clock in the evening when the deputies returned home. Nicholas Poulain remained behind the others, reflecting on the perplexing situation in which he found himself, and considering whether he should report all that he had heard to M. d'Epernon, when, in the middle of the Rue de la Pierre-au-Réal, he ran right against a Jacobin monk. They both began to swear, but, looking up, recognized each other.
"Brother Borromée!" cried Poulain.
"Nicholas Poulain!" exclaimed the monk.
"How are you?" asked Nicholas cautiously. "Where in the world were you running to in such a hurry at this time of night? Is the priory on fire?"
"No; I was going to the Duchesse de Montpensier's hotel, to speak to M. de Mayneville."
"And what for?"