After a little search, I lighted upon the very carriage, of which I was in quest. A servant was locking one of the doors, for it was made with the security of lock and key. I paused near, looking at the panel of the door. "A very pretty device that red stork!" I observed, pointing to the shield on the door, "and no doubt indicates a distinguished family?" The servant looked at me, for a moment, as he placed the little key in his pocket, and said with a slightly sarcastic bow and smile, "Monsieur is at liberty to conjecture." Nothing daunted, I forthwith administered that laxative which, on occasion, acts so happily upon the tongue--I mean a "tip." The servant looked at the Napoleon in his hand, and then, in my face, with a sincere expression of surprise. "Monsieur is very generous!" "Not worth mentioning--who are the lady and gentleman who came here, in this carriage, and whom, you may remember, I and my servant assisted to-day in an emergency, when their horses had come to the ground?" "They are the Count, and the young lady we call the Countess--but I know not, she may be his daughter." "Can you tell me where they live?" "Upon my honour, Monsieur, I am unable--I know not." "Not know where your master lives! Surely you know something more about him than his name?" "Nothing worth relating, Monsieur; in fact, I was hired in Bruxelles, on the very day they started. Monsieur Picard, my fellow-servant, Monsieur the Comte's gentleman, he has been years in his service and knows everything; but he never speaks except to communicate an order. From him I have learned nothing. We are going to Paris, however, and there I shall speedily pick up all about them. At present I am as ignorant of all that as Monsieur himself." "And where is Monsieur Picard?" "He has gone to the cutler's to get his razors set. But I do not think he will tell anything." This was a poor harvest for my golden sowing. The man, I think, spoke truth, and would honestly have betrayed the secrets of the family, if he had possessed any. I took my leave politely; and mounting the stairs, again I found myself once more in my room. Forthwith I summoned my servant. Though I had brought him with me from England, he was a native of France--a useful fellow, sharp, bustling, and, of course, quite familiar with the ways and tricks of his countrymen.