"What! do ministers have carriages under the Republic?"
"They have to do so, to save time, my friend. I call the carriage so that we shall be quickly at the Tuileries. But what about the key to the safe?—it is not likely Louis XVI. left it in the key-hole."
"Why, certainly not, for our fat Capet is not such a fool as he looks. Here is a duplicate," he continued, drawing a new key from his pocket; "I made it from memory. I tell you I am the master of my craft. I studied the lock, fancying some day—"
"This is an awful scoundrel," said Roland to his wife.
"Yes; but we have no right to reject any information coming to us in the present state of affairs in order to arrive at a knowledge of the truth. Am I to go with you?" asked the lady.
"Certainly, as there are papers in the case. Are you not the most honest man I know?"
Gamain followed them to the door, mumbling:
"I always said that I would pay old Capet out for what he did to me. What Louis XVI. did was kindness."