The King put in his hands a lock three-parts finished.
“Lord help us,” said the man, grinning: “this is not a secret bolt but a trunk lock. You have three wards on it and the second ought to catch while the first is released by the key.”
He was using the key as he spoke and the others contemplated his demonstration with awe for his learning.
“But the second ward catches, like the Assembly when you want it to do something your way and says: ‘I won’t budge.'”
“But there must be some way of getting over the fix,” said the King.
“Of course; it would be a day’s work to an ordinary workman but I will knock it off in a couple of hours. Only,” said he, with the suspicious air of an artisan jealous of the secrets of the craft; “I want no fussing round me.”
What Gamain desired was the yearning of the King. His loneliness would allow him a dialogue apart with the Apprentice.
“But you may need something?”
“I will set the footman trotting.”
The King went himself to the door to acquaint François with the arrangement, and then led away the apprentice, Louis Lecomte, in whom the reader will have recognized Louis Bouille.