"If it's a nobleman who has abducted your mistress, you must go and ask for her at all the great noblemen's houses."
Suddenly Urbain uttered a joyful exclamation, and a slight smile animated his pale and sorrowful features.
"There still remains one hope," he said.
"And what is that, monsieur?"
"In the midst of all these events I had forgotten that adventure, however, it may yet serve me."
"What adventure; monsieur?"
"Listen to me. You remember that in order to see Blanche I was for some time obliged to disguise myself as a woman."
"Oh, yes, monsieur, I remember very well. Didn't I help to dress you and to put in your pins?"
The girl smiled. Urbain paid no attention and continued,—
"One evening, I think it was the first time that I wore my disguise, having been accosted by several men, I escaped them by traversing many streets and it was very late when I found myself in the Grand Pré-aux-Clercs. I had almost reached my dwelling when I was stopped by four men, whom by their language I recognized as noblemen of the court. I confessed to them that I was a man, hoping by that means to escape them, but one of them wanted me to tell him the motive for my disguise. I refused, he persisted; I got angry, he threatened; in short, one of his companions lent me his sword and we fought, I wounded my adversary, but very slightly, I think. 'My friend,' he said to me then, tendering me his hand, 'you are a brave man and I am very pleased to have made your acquaintance; if you should some day have need of a protector, come to my hotel, ask for the Marquis de Villebelle and you shall find me ready to oblige you.' Those are his exact words."