"Oh, are you?" said the general. "Well, what do you want to say now? Speak out, and briefly!"
"I want to do you exactly the same service over again."
"As for that, times are changed, my good friend. We are no longer among the sunken roads of the Retz region, where a tiny foot, a fair skin, and a soft voice are remarkable because they are rare in the country. Here, all the women look like great ladies; and a score of men of your kind have been to me to sell their mare's-nests. My soldiers have been kept on the qui-vive all the time; we have searched a dozen different places, and all to no purpose."
"General, I have a right to expect you to put faith in me, because the information I gave you first was correct."
"Upon my word," muttered the general, in a low tone, "it would be rather pleasant to discover, all by myself, what that man from Paris with his squads of spies, and sneaks, and pimps, and criminal and detective police can't find out. Are you sure of what you say?" he continued, raising his voice.
"I am sure that within twenty-four hours I shall know the street and the number of the house--"
"Then come and see me."
"But, general, I should wish to know--Courtin stopped.
"Know what?" asked the general.
"I have heard talk of reward, and I wish to know--"