pectfully.

"Quite so."

"Perhaps for a stay of some duration?"

"Quite so, indeed, Henri."

"Then, sir," expostulated the Swiss, "it would require a day or so for
me to properly arrange your luggage."

"Not at all," replied Law. "Two valises will suffice, not more, and I
shall perhaps not need even these."

"Not all the apparel, the many coats, the jewels--"

"Do not trouble over them."

"But what disposition shall I make--?"

"None at all. Leave all these things as they are. But stay--this package
which I shall prepare for you--take it to the regent, and have it marked
in his care and for the Parliament of France."

Law raised in his hands a bundle of parchments, which one by one he tore
across, throwing the fragments into a basket as he did so.

"The seat of Tancarville," he said. "The estate of Berville; the Hotel
Mazarin; the lands of Bourget; the Marquisat of Charleville; the lands
of Orcher; the estate of Roissy--Gad! what a number of them I find."

"But, Monsieur," expostulated the Swiss, "what is that you do? Are these
not your possessions?"

"Not so, _mon ami_," replied Law. "They once were mine. They are estates
in France. Take back these deeds. Dead Sully may have his own again, and
each of these late owners of the lands. I wished them for a purpose.
That purpose is no longer possible, and now I wish them no more. Take
back your deeds, my friends, and bear in your minds that John Law tore
them in two, and thus canceled the obligation."

"But the moneys you have paid--they are enormous. Surely you will exact
restitution?"

"Sirrah, could I not afford these moneys?"

"Admirably at the time," replied the Swiss, with the freedom of long
service. "But for the future, what do we know? Besides, it is a matter
of right and justice."

"Ah, _mon ami_" said Law, "right and justice are no more. But since you
speak of money, let us take precautions as to that. We shall need some
money for our journey. See, Henri! Take this note and get the money
which it calls for. But no! The crowd may be too great. Look in the
drawer of my desk yonder, and take out what you find."

The Swiss did as he was bidden, but at length returned with troubled
face.

"Monsieur," said he, "I can find but a hundred louis."

"Put half of it back," said Law. "We shall not need so much."

"But, Monsieur, I do not understand."

"We shall not need more than fifty louis. That is enough. Leave the
rest," said Law. "Leave it wh