'If monsieur is tired he would probably like his dinner earlier.'
'Morbleu! The very thing, madame, and as long a bottle of Beaugency as you can get with it.'
'It shall be done, monsieur,' and she turned to go.
It struck me as a little odd that she should have come up in this aimless manner; but reflecting that perhaps, after all, it was due to nothing more than a desire to gratify feminine curiosity by spying what I was about, I dismissed the matter.
After allowing a little time to elapse I descended to the shop and began carelessly running my eyes over the miscellaneous collection of articles therein. The fence followed me about, now recommending this thing and now that. At last I saw what looked to be a ball of rope lying in a corner and covered with dust.
'What is that?' I inquired, touching it with the point of my sword.
The man stooped without a word and, picking it up, dusted it carefully, then he unrolled a ladder of silken cord, about twelve or fifteen feet in length.
'This, captain,' he said, swinging it backwards and forwards, 'belonged, not so long ago, to M. de Bellievre, though you may not believe me.'
'I have no doubt you are speaking the truth, but it seems rather weak.'
'On the contrary, monsieur, will you test it and see?'