"I understand, Monseigneur," I answered.
"You will get into the house as you can," he continued. "For that you will need strategy, and good strategy. They suspect everybody. You must deceive them. If you fail to deceive them, or, deceiving them, are found out later, M. de Berault--I do not think you will trouble me again, or break the edict a second time. On the other hand, should you deceive me"--he smiled still more subtly, but his voice sank to a purring note--"I will break you on the wheel like the ruined gamester you are!"
I met his look without quailing. "So be it!" I said recklessly. "If I do not bring M. de Cocheforêt to Paris, you may do that to me, and more also!"
"It is a bargain!" he answered slowly. "I think you will be faithful. For money, here are a hundred crowns. That sum should suffice; but if you succeed you shall have twice as much more. Well, that is all, I think. You understand?"
"Yes, Monseigneur."
"Then why do you wait?"
"The lieutenant?" I said modestly.
Monseigneur laughed to himself, and sitting down wrote a word or two on a slip of paper. "Give him that," he said, in high good-humour. "I fear, M. de Berault, you will never get your deserts--in this world!"