“He dined there, monsieur. If you went to the Mulet you’d laugh! The little tiger is, saving your presence, as drunk as a fiddler. He drank such a lot of champagne in the servants’ hall that he can’t stand on his legs; they have been filling him for fun.”
“And the count?”
“The count had gone to bed; but as soon as he received the letter he got up. He is now dressing himself; and they are putting the horse in the tilbury. The count is to spend the night at Cinq-Cygne.”
“He must be some great personage.”
“Oh, yes, monsieur; for Gothard, the steward of Cinq-Cygne, came this morning to see his brother-in-law Poupart, and warned him to be very discreet about the gentleman and to serve him like a king.”
“Vinet must be right,” thought the sub-prefect. “Can there be some cabal on foot?”
“It was Duc Georges de Maufrigneuse who sent Gothard to the Mulet. Poupart came to the meeting here this morning only because the gentleman wished him to do so; if he had sent him to Paris, he’d go. Gothard told Poupart to keep silent about the gentleman, and to fool all inquisitive people.”
“If you can get Anicette here, don’t fail to let me know,” said Antonin.
“But I could see her at Cinq-Cygne if monsieur would send me to his house at Val-Preux.”
“That’s an idea. You might profit by the chariot to get there. But what reason could you give to the little groom?”