ble-looking, little old
man. This individual, wrapped in a puce-colored overcoat, as though
it were still winter, with powdered hair, and a cold, pale face, had a
gouty gait, unsteady on feet that were shod with loose calfskin boots;
leaning on a gold-headed cane, he carried his hat in his hand, and wore
a row of seven orders in his button-hole.

"What is it, my dear des Lupeaulx?" asked the public prosecutor.

"I come from the Prince," replied the Count, in a low voice. "You have
carte blanche if you can only get the letters--Madame de Serizy's,
Madame de Maufrigneuse's and Mademoiselle Clotilde de Grandlieu's. You
may come to some arrangement with this gentleman----"

"Who is he?" asked Monsieur de Granville, in a whisper.

"There are no secrets between you and me, my dear sir," said des
Lupeaulx. "This is the famous Corentin. His Majesty desires that you
will yourself tell him all the details of this affair and the conditions
of success."

"Do me the kindness," replied the public prosecutor, "of going to tell
the Prince that the matter is settled, that I have not needed this
gentleman's assistance," and he turned to Corentin. "I will wait on His
Majesty for his commands with regard to the last steps in the matter,
which will lie with the Keeper of the Seals, as two reprieves will need
signing."

"You have been wise to take the initiative," said des Lupeaulx,
shaking hands with the Comte de Granville. "On the very eve of a great
undertaking the King is most anxious that the peers and the great
families should not be shown up, blown upon. It ceases to be a low
criminal case; it becomes an affair of State."

"But tell the Prince that by the time you came it was all settled."

"Really!"

"I believe so."

"Then you, my dear fellow, will be Keeper of the Seals as soon as the
present Keeper is made Chancellor----"

"I have no ambition," replied the magistrate.

Des Lupeaulx laughed, and went away.

"Beg of the Prince to request the King to grant me ten minutes' audience
at about half-past two," added Monsieur de Granville, as he accompanied
the Comte des Lupeaulx to the door.

"So you are not ambitious!" said des Lupeaulx, with a keen look at
Monsieur de Granville. "Come, you have two children, you would like at
least to be made peer of France."

"If you have the letters, Monsieur le Procureur General, my intervention
is unnecessary," said Corentin, finding himself alone with Monsieur de
Granville, who l