"I do not know, baron, whether my lord (indicating Croustillac) will deign to admit us to his table."
The governor, stupefied with surprise, regarded Croustillac with a new and burning curiosity. "But, sir, is this, then, a great personage?"
"Baron, I am again under the necessity of reminding you that it is my mission to ask questions of you and not——"
"Sufficient, sufficient, sir. Will you ask the guest whom I have the honor to receive if he will do me the favor to accept this breakfast?"
Chemerant transmitted the invitation of the baron to Croustillac, who, pretending fatigue, asked to breakfast alone in his apartment.
Chemerant whispered a few words in the ear of the governor, who immediately offered his finest apartment to the supposed great personage.
Croustillac prayed the baron to have the pannier, of which one of the two guards had taken charge, and which, as we know, contained only Croustillac's old garments, brought to his room.
Chemerant was in the room of the Gascon when the pannier was brought in.
"Who would think, to look at this modest pannier, that it contained more than three millions' worth of jewels?" said Croustillac negligently.
"What imprudence! your highness!" cried De Chemerant. "These guards are trusty, but——"