s prejudices
troubled him less. Love consults no peerage and he had long ago ceased
to think as his mother did of a title which had no legal existence.

It was natural enough that an event as grave as this encounter with
Carteaux should leave on a young man's mind a deep impression; nor had
his talk with Schmidt, the night before, enabled him, as next day he
walked to the State Department, to feel entirely satisfied. The news of
the highway robbery had been for two days the city gossip, and already
the gazettes were considering it in a leisurely fashion; but as no
journals reached the widow's house unless brought thither by Schmidt,
the amenities of the press in regard to the assault and the
administration were as yet unseen by De Courval. On the steps of the
Department of State he met the Marquis de Noailles, who greeted him
cheerfully, asking if he had read what Mr. Bache and the "Aurora" said
of the attack on Carteaux.

Rene felt the cold chill of too conscious knowledge as he replied: "Not
yet, Marquis. I am but yesterday come from New York."

"Well, it should interest Mr. Randolph. It does appear to Mr. Bache that
no one except the English party and the Federals could profit by the
theft. How they could be the better by the gossip of this _sacre_
Jacobin actor in the role of a minister the _bon Dieu_ alone knows."

Rene laughed. "You are descriptive, Marquis."

"Who would not be? But, my dear De Courval, you must regret that you
were not the remarkable highwayman who stole Fauchet's eloquence and
left a gold watch and seals; but here comes Mr. Randolph. He may explain
it; at all events, if he confides to you the name of that robber, send
the man to me. I will pay five dollars apiece for Jacobin scalps.
_Adieu._ My regrets that you are not the man."

Mr. Randolph was cool as they went in together, and made it plain that
absence without leave on the part of a clerk was an embarrassment to the
public service of the State Department, in which were only three or four
clerks. De Courval could only say that imperative private business had
taken him out of town. It would not occur again. Upon this Mr. Randolph
began to discuss the amazing assault and robbery with which town gossip
was so busy. Mr. Fauchet had been insolent, and, asking aid in
discovering the thief, had plainly implied that more than he and his
government would suffer if the despatch were not soon restored to the
minister. Mr. Randolph had been much a