Scotch soldiers had retired, Hector said to Paolo:

"Now, Paolo, I place more reliance upon your finding out anything
that is afloat than upon the soldiers. It is not likely that any plans
Beaufort may form will be communicated to his people until the moment
for action, and indeed it is probable that he will rely solely upon his
personal friends. Now I want you to disguise yourself in any way you may
think best, and watch Beaufort's hotel; see who comes in and out, and if
a messenger goes out follow him, see the houses he calls at, and mark
if those who dwell there repair at once to the Hotel de Vendome. If you
perceive that this is the case let me know at once. See if you can get
hold of half a dozen street gamins, and employ them to watch the houses
of all these gentlemen, and especially that of Monsieur Id, captain of
Beaufort's guards, and of the two Messieurs de Campion and the Count de
Beaupuis, who are, I know, among the duke's most intimate friends. There
are scores of these street boys who for a few sous a day would gladly
undertake the work."

"I will do that, master. You can take my word that by tomorrow at noon
the lodging of these four gentlemen will be strictly watched. This is a
business after my own heart."

"In the first place, Paolo, take a note from me to the Hotel de Cleves
and wait for an answer."

The note was a short one. It merely gave the name of the auberge at
which he had taken up his quarters, and added:

If your eminence will be good enough to send me every morning a list of
any visits that you may intend to pay, or any journey that you may make
during the day, it would enable me to regulate my movements accordingly
in order to be always here and ready to carry out any orders that you
may send me from your hotel.

The cardinal's reply was even more brief:

It is well thought of. I shall go nowhere but to the Louvre tomorrow,
and shall probably be there the greater part of the day. Unless you hear
from me to the contrary, you need only remain in between twelve and one.

The next morning Paolo appeared dressed in ragged clothes.

"What is that bundle of papers that you have got?"

"They are lampoons on the cardinal. Nothing so natural as that I should
try and sell them in front of the Hotel de Vendome."

"Nothing could be better, Paolo."

"I have already picked up a dozen gamins, master, sharp little beggars,
who jumped at the idea of being set to watch people. Between them
every