to you.
I am Tantaine, Adrien Tantaine."

M. de Mussidan gazed with extreme surprise upon the squalid individual
before him. His mild and benevolent face inspired confidence, and yet he
doubted him.

"I have come on the same business," pursued the old man. "I have been
ordered to tell you that it must be hurried on."

The Count hastily closed the door and locked it; the manner of this man
made him feel even too plainly the ignominy of his position.

"I understand," answered he. "But how is it that you have come, and not
the other one?"

"He intended to come; but at the last moment he drew back; Mascarin, you
see, has a great deal to lose, while I----" He paused, and holding up
the tattered tails of his coat, turned round, as though to exhibit his
shabby attire. "All my property is on my back," continued he.

"Then I can treat with you?" asked the Count.

Tantaine nodded his head. "Yes, Count, I have the missing leaves from
the Baron's journal, and also, well--I suppose you know everything, all
of your wife's correspondence."

"Enough," answered the Count, unable to hide his disgust. "Sit down."

"Now, Count, I will go to the point--are you going to put the police on
us?"

"I have said that I would do nothing of the kind."

"Then we can get to business."

"Yes, if----"

The old man shrugged his shoulders.

"There is no 'if' in the case," returned he. "We state our conditions,
for acceptance or rejection."

These words were uttered in a tone of such extreme insolence that the
Count was strongly tempted to hurl the extortionate scoundrel from the
window, but he contrived to restrain his passion.

"Let us hear the conditions then," said he impatiently.

Tantaine extracted from some hidden recess of his coat a much-worn
pocketbook, and drew from it a paper.

"Here are our conditions," returned he slowly. "The Count de Mussidan
promises to give the hand of his daughter to Henri Marquis de
Croisenois. He will give his daughter a wedding portion of six hundred
thousand francs, and promises that the marriage shall take place without
delay. The Marquis de Croisenois will be formally introduced at your
house, and he must be cordially received. Four days afterwards he must
be asked to dinner. On the fifteenth day from that M. de Mussidan will
give a grand ball in honor of the signing of the marriage contract. The
leaves from the diary and the whole of the correspondence will be handed
to M. de Mussidan as so