However, after a few moments of hesitation--hesitation which is the harder to understand, in that he was absolutely alone upon the quay in the intense heat--he realized that he must make up his mind to do something. As there was nothing for him to do but find his way into the hotel, he walked to the door and raised the knocker. But God only knows when he would have let it fall, had not the door chanced to open at that moment, bringing him face to face with a sort of Master Jacques, a man about thirty years of age, half servant, half peasant. It was Messire Robert d'Estourville's gardener. Ascanio and the gardener mutually recoiled a step. "What do you want?" said the gardener; "whom do you seek?" Ascanio, thus compelled to go forward with his mission, summoned all his courage, and replied bravely:-- "I desire to inspect the hotel." "To inspect the hotel!" cried the gardener in amazement; "in whose name?" "In the king's name!" Ascanio replied. "In the king's name!" cried the gardener. "Jesus-Dieu! does the king intend to take it from us?" "Perhaps so!" "But what does it mean?" "Pray understand, my friend," said Ascanio, with a self-possession upon which he mentally congratulated himself, "that I have no explanation to give you." "True. With whom do you desire to speak?" "Is Monsieur le Prévôt within?" inquired Ascanio, knowing perfectly well that he was not. "No, Monsieur; he is at the Châtelet." "Indeed! Who takes his place in his absence?" "His daughter is here; Mademoiselle Colombe." Ascanio felt that he was blushing to his ears. "And there is Dame Perrine, too," the gardener continued. "Does Monsieur desire to speak with Dame Perrine or with Mademoiselle Colombe?" This was a very simple question, surely, and yet it caused a terrible conflict in Ascanio's mind. He opened his mouth to say that he wished to see Mademoiselle Colombe, and yet it was as if the audacious words refused to pass his lips, and he asked for Dame Perrine. The gardener, who had no suspicion that his question, which seemed so simple to him, had caused such a disturbance, bowed in token of obedience, and went across the courtyard toward the door of the Petit-Nesle. Ascanio followed him. He had to cross a second courtyard, pass through a second door, then cross a small flower garden, ascend a flight of steps, and traverse a long gallery. At the end of the gallery the gardener opened the door and said:-- "Dame Perrine, here is a young gentleman, who asks to inspect the hotel, in the king's name." With that he stood aside and made room for Ascanio, who took his place in the doorway. As he glanced into the room, a cloud passed before his eyes, and he leaned against the door frame for support. A very simple, and yet entirely unforeseen thing had happened; Dame Perrine was with Colombe, and he found himself in the presence of both.