"Monsieur de Rumigny," he said, "here is M. Dumas."
"Very well, let him come to me."
The distributor was M. de Rumigny himself: he was then about thirty-five, and was a splendid figure in his uniform. He had a big case full of swords and pistols in front of him; the rifles had all gone. They had come from Lepage.
Swords and pistols were given to my men, and then, when all had been equipped, M. de Rumigny asked—
"Are your men thirsty?"
"Rather," I said, "they are scene-shifters from the théâtre de l'Odéon!"
"Give them a glass of wine each, then."
They went to a table full of bottles and glasses, and were served by His Royal Highness's own lackeys.
"Well?" I asked, when they had drunk.