. I was a little disturbed
in mind at leaving you as I did. But--business called me. I knew that if
you could manage to keep a whole body for ten days or so, even if that
amiable Count did see fit to cage you up, you would be set free in the
end."

"Set free? By the Count, do you mean?"

"Not at all. By those who would visit the Count; by those who have--But
stay,--have you not just come from Lavardin?"

"No, indeed. I left that hospitable house more than a week ago. I set
myself free."

"Oh, is that the case? I ask your pardon. When I saw you here, I
naturally supposed your liberation was a result of what has just
occurred. I haven't yet learned all particulars of the event."

"What event? I don't understand you."

"Then you don't know what has been going on at Lavardin recently?"

"Not I."

"Oh, indeed? Well, it will be known to all the world very soon. The
Count, it seems, was suspected of some hand in the late intrigue with
Spain--"

"Ah!"

"Why do you say 'Ah!'?"

"Nothing. I always thought there might be something wrong with the
Count's politics."

"Well, so they thought in Paris. And having made sure--"

"How did they make sure?"

"Oh, by the discovery of certain documents, no doubt," said Monsieur de
Pepicot, with a notable unconsciousness. "It is the usual way, is it
not?"

"Aha! I begin to see now. You overdo the innocence, my friend. I begin
to guess what you were doing at Lavardin--"

"Monsieur, I know not what you mean."

"I begin to guess why you wanted to get into the chateau,--what you were
wandering about the house with a lantern for,--why you took your leave
so unexpectedly,--and how you knew that in ten days I should be set
free."

"Nay, Monsieur, I cannot follow you in your perceptions. I know only
that on Monday evening a party of the King's guard appeared before the
Chateau de Lavardin--"

"Having been sent from Paris soon after you had arrived there with the
documents you found in the chateau."

"Please do not interrupt with your baseless conjectures, Monsieur. As I
said, the guards arrived at Lavardin just as, by great good fortune, the
Count himself was returning from some journey or excursion he had been
on. Thus they met him outside his walls: had it been otherwise they
would doubtless have had infinite trouble, for, as we know, the chateau
has been for some time fully prepared for a siege, even to being
garrisoned by the company of Captain Ferragant."

"What! th