If the insolence of my demand occasioned some surprise at first, a little cool persistence on my part showed that compliance would be the better policy; and, after conferring together for a few minutes, during which I heard the sound of money, the turnkey retired, and came back speedily with a jacket and cap belonging to one of the drummers of the "Republican Guard"—a gaudy, tasteless affair enough, but, as a disguise, nothing could have been more perfect.
"Have you not a drum to give him?" said Boivin, with a most malignant sneer at my equipment.
"He'll make a noise in the world without that!" muttered the jailor, half soliloquizing; and the words fell upon my heart with a strange significance.
"Your blessing, Boivin," said I, "and we part."
"Te te—"
"No, no; don't curse the boy," interposed the jailor, good humoredly.
"Then, move off, youngster; I've lost too much time with you already."
The next moment I was in the "Place"—a light, misty rain was falling, and the night was dark and starless; the "Scélérat" was brilliant with lamps and candles, and crowds were passing in and out, but it was no longer a home for me—so I passed on, and continued my way toward the Boulevard.