for the sake of eating bearded cheese, and looking at the
bell-towers of Paris through a hole in the wall!"

He advanced a few paces, and caught sight of the two screech owls,
that is to say, Dom Claude and Master Jacques Charmolue, absorbed in
contemplation before a carving on the facade. He approached them on
tiptoe, and heard the archdeacon say in a low tone to Charmolue: "'Twas
Guillaume de Paris who caused a Job to be carved upon this stone of
the hue of lapis-lazuli, gilded on the edges. Job represents the
philosopher's stone, which must also be tried and martyrized in order
to become perfect, as saith Raymond Lulle: _Sub conservatione formoe
speciftoe salva anima_."

"That makes no difference to me," said Jehan, "'tis I who have the
purse."

At that moment he heard a powerful and sonorous voice articulate behind
him a formidable series of oaths. "_Sang Dieu! Ventre-.Dieu! Bedieu!
Corps de Dieu! Nombril de Belzebuth! Nom d'un pape! Come et tonnerre_."

"Upon my soul!" exclaimed Jehan, "that can only be my friend, Captain
Phoebus!"

This name of Phoebus reached the ears of the archdeacon at the moment
when he was explaining to the king's procurator the dragon which is
hiding its tail in a bath, from which issue smoke and the head of
a king. Dom Claude started, interrupted himself and, to the great
amazement of Charmolue, turned round and beheld his brother Jehan
accosting a tall officer at the door of the Gondelaurier mansion.

It was, in fact, Captain Phoebus de Chateaupers. He was backed up
against a corner of the house of his betrothed and swearing like a
heathen.

"By my faith! Captain Phoebus," said Jehan, taking him by the hand, "you
are cursing with admirable vigor."

"Horns and thunder!" replied the captain.

"Horns and thunder yourself!" replied the student. "Come now, fair
captain, whence comes this overflow of fine words?"

"Pardon me, good comrade Jehan," exclaimed Phoebus, shaking his hand, "a
horse going at a gallop cannot halt short. Now, I was swearing at a hard
gallop. I have just been with those prudes, and when I come forth, I
always find my throat full of curses, I must spit them out or strangle,
_ventre et tonnerre_!"

"Will you come and drink?" asked the scholar.

This proposition calmed the captain.

"I'm willing, but I have no money."

"But I have!"

"Bah! let's see it!"

Jehan spread out the purse before the captain's eyes, with dignity and
simplicity. Meanwhile, the