“Ha, ha! an amourette, too. Well, well, young gentleman! no need of further confessions; lose no more time here. Bonsoir.”
“Adieu, Burke,” said De Beauvais, shaking my hand with a peculiar pressure.
“Adieu, Monsieur Gisquet. This order will pass me through the barrack, won't it?”
“Yes; to be sure. You need fear no interference with my people either, go where you will this evening.”
“Thanks, sir, once more,” said he, and departed.
“Now for our business, Mr. Burke,” said the minister, opening his packet of papers before him, and commencing to con over its contents. “I shall ask you a few questions, to which you will please to reply with all the accuracy you can command, remembering that you are liable to be called on to verify any statement hereafter on oath. With whom did you speak on the evening of the 2d of May, at the soiree of Madame Bonaparte?”
“I scarcely remember if I spoke to any one save Madame herself. A strange gentleman, whose name I forget, presented me; one or two others, also unknown to me, may have spoken a passing word or so; and when coming away I met Monsieur de Beauvais.”
“Monsieur de Beauvais! who is he?”
“Ma foi I can't tell you. I saw him the day before for the first time; we renewed our acquaintance, and we supped together.”
“At Beauvilliers's?” said he, interrupting.