"No cheat there—his living likeness."
"A chip of the old block. My dear friend," continued Maillard, "straight as a die, how long does your dose take to operate?"
"Immediately after taking; but these fellows fight shy of medicine. He will play fast and loose before he takes it, and his wife will have to make a cup of soup to wash the taste out of his mouth."
"You mean I may have time to do what I have to do?"
"I hope so; you seem to feel great interest in our Captain Beausire?"
"So much so that, for fear he will be very bad, I am going to get a couple of male nurses for him."
Leaving the drug store with a silent laugh, the only one he indulged in, Maillard hurried back to the Tuileries.
Pitou was absent, for we know he was attending on the Countess of Charny, but Lieutenant Maniquet was guarding the post. They recognized each other.
"Well, Citizen Maillard, did you overtake the fellow?" asked Maniquet.
"No; but I am on his track."