ords, written coarsely with the pencil,--"How much?"

The chevalier turned the back of the paper, and wrote, "Fifty
napoleons."

On reading which the large man tore the scrap, and nodding slightly
with his head, sauntered from the room. We rose a few moments after,
and having taken a formal leave of the general and the _commissaire_,
proceeded towards the street, where we had left our horses. As we passed
along the corridor, however, we found Bocquin awaiting us. He opened
a door into a small, mean-looking apartment, of which he appeared the
owner. Having ushered us in, and cautiously closed it behind him, he
drew from his pocket a piece of cloth, to which a button and a piece of
gold embroidery were attached.

"Your jacket would be spoiled without this morsel, Captain," said he,
laughing, in a low, dry laugh.

"So it would, Bocquin," said Duchesne, examining his coat, which I now
perceived was torn on the shoulder, and a small piece--the exact one in
his hand--wanting, but which had escaped my attention from the mass of
gold lace and embroidery with which it was covered.

"Do you know, Bocquin," said Duchesne, in a tone much graver than he had
used before, "I never noticed that?"

"_Parbleu!_ I believe you," said he, laughing; "nor did I, till you sat
on the bench, when I was so pleased with your coolness, I could not for
the life of me interrupt you."

"Have you got any money, Burke?" said the chevalier; "some twenty gold
pieces--"

"No, no, Captain," said Bocquin, "not now; another time. I must call
upon you one of these mornings about another affair, and it will be time
enough then."

"As you please, Bocquin," said the chevalier, putting up his purse
again; "and so, till we meet."

"Till we meet, gentlemen," replied the other, as he bowed us
respectfully to the door.

"You seem to have but a very faint comprehension of all this, Burke,"
said Duchesne, as he took my arm; "you look confoundedly puzzled, I must
say."

"If I didn't, I should be an admirable actor, that's all," said I.

"Why, I think the thing is plain enough, in all conscience; Bocquin
found that piece of my jacket on the ground, and, of course, the affair
was in his hands."

"Why, do you mean to say--"

"That I shot Monsieur le Prince this morning, at a quarter past seven
o'clock, and felt devilish uncomfortable about it till the last ten
minutes, my boy. If I did not confide the matter to you before, it
was because that until all