CHAPTER XX
THE CROWN JEWELS
An hour later I sat with Lorgnac and Le Brusquet in a little room in the former's house in the Rue Tire Boudin. At the Louvre I had discovered that there was no chance of my being able to see the Queen until after the supper hour; and so I accepted the hospitality De Lorgnac offered me, and was back again in the very house in which I had spent my last night in Paris.
A few minutes after our arrival Le Brusquet ambled up on a Spanish mule, and soon we three were deep in discussing what had happened since the day I rode out of the Porte St. Michel. I had perforce to relate my own adventures, and when I described my meeting with La Marmotte and her strange request De Lorgnac rose from his seat, and approaching the window, said:
"You can see Maître Barou's store from here. It abuts on my stables, and you will not have far to go to keep your appointment."
"If I do keep it; but at present I have no such intention."
"You must keep it." It was Le Brusquet's incisive voice that cut in.
"Why? There is no reason why we should ever meet again."
"There is every reason—that is, if you take sufficient interest in the future of Mademoiselle de Paradis."
De Lorgnac came back to his seat. I looked inquiry, and Le Brusquet continued: