ch him through his love of dogs, without having
prepared ourselves with special knowledge and a fine hound or so to
attract his attention. As for his jealousy, it would be too hazardous to
play upon that: besides, I shouldn't like to cook up a tale about his
wife, unless put to it."

"Monsieur, don't speak of such a thing," I said indignantly.

"No, it wouldn't do. I can't think of a better plan than the one that
first occurred to me. As it required a confederate, I put it aside. But
when I observed you yesterday regarding the chateau so wistfully, I said
to myself, 'No doubt heaven has sent this young man to help me, and that
I in turn may help him.' But I waited to make sure, watching you last
night and this morning till I was convinced of your desire to get into
the chateau."

It was a surprise to me to learn that I had been watched, but I took it
coolly.

"The plan I had thought of," he went on, "required that my confederate
should be unknown to the Count and those near him. When I find that you,
who are anxious for your own reasons to enter the chateau, fulfil that
requirement, I can only think the more that heaven has brought us
together. It is more than heaven usually does for one."

"But what else does your plan require of me?" I asked, impatient to know
what must be faced.

"You play chess, of course?" was his interrogative answer.

"A little," said I, wondering what that had to do with the case.

"Then all is fair ahead of us. Luckily. I play rather well myself. As I
said just now, I have been nosing among the people--nosing is a good
word in my case, isn't it?"--he pointed to his much-extended
proboscis--"I have been nosing about to learn the Count's ruling
passions and so forth. When you have anybody to hoodwink, or obtain
access to without creating suspicion, find out what are his likings and
preoccupations: be sure there will be something there of which you can
avail yourself. From the village priest I learned that, along with his
fondness for hunting and drinking and the lower forms of gaming, the
Count has a taste for more intellectual amusements, and chiefly for the
game of chess. He is a most excellent player, and doesn't often find a
worthy antagonist. His bosom friend, one Captain Ferragant, who is now
living at the chateau, has no skill at chess, so the Count has been put
to sending for this priest to come and play a game now and then, but the
Count beats him too easily for any pleasure and