ced to. Mind what I say,
I will go tomorrow to the head-quarters, I will dine with the Count de
Cameran, and I will invite him to supper." "Where?" said Matta. "Here,"
said the Chevalier. "You are mad, my poor friend," replied Matta. "This
is some such project as you formed at Lyons: you know we have neither
money nor credit; and, to re-establish our circumstances, you intend to
give a supper."

"Stupid fellow!" said the Chevalier, "is it possible, that, so long as
we have been acquainted, you should have learned no more invention? The
Count de Cameran plays at quinze, and so do I; we want money; he has
more than he knows what to do with; I will bespeak a splendid supper, he
shall pay for it. Send your maitre-d'hotel to me, and trouble yourself
no further, except in some precautions, which it is necessary to take on
such an occasion." "What are they?" said Matta. "I will tell you," said
the Chevalier; "for I find one must explain to you things that are as
clear as noon-day."

"You command the guards that are here, don't you? As soon as night comes
on, you shall order fifteen or twenty men, under the command of your
sergeant La Place, to be under arms, and to lay themselves flat on the
ground, between this place and the head-quarters." "What the devil!"
cried Matta, "an ambuscade? God forgive me, I believe you intend to
rob the poor Savoyard. If that be your intention, I declare I will have
nothing to say to it" "Poor devil!" said the Chevalier, "the matter is
this; it is very likely that we shall win his money. The Piedmontese,
though otherwise good fellows, are apt to be suspicious and distrustful.
He commands the horse; you know you cannot hold your tongue, and are
very likely to let slip some jest or other that may vex him. Should he
take it into his head that he is cheated, and resent it, who knows what
the consequences might be? for he is commonly attended by eight or
ten horsemen. Therefore, however he may be provoked at his loss, it is
proper to be in such a situation as not to dread his resentment."

"Embrace me, my dear Chevalier," said Matta, holding his sides and
laughing; "embrace me, for thou art not to be matched. What a fool I was
to think, when you talked to me of taking precautions, that nothing more
was necessary than to prepare a table and cards, or perhaps to provide
some false dice! I should never have thought of supporting a man who
plays at quinze by a detachment of foot: I must, indeed, confess