"Ah, it makes your mouth water, Monsieur Alain."
"Speak; what do you want to do?"
"First send away your chemist and secretary."
"You still wish it?"——"Decidedly."
"Very well, then."
The regent signed to them to leave: they did so.
"And now," said he, "what is it?"
"I want to present to you, monseigneur, a young man, a very delightful fellow, just arrived from Bretagne, and strongly recommended to me."
"His name?"
"The Chevalier Gaston de Chanlay."