Louët went away with this pleasant prospect before him, and I wrote to the prince royal to ask him for an interview next morning. A quarter of an hour later, I received his assent. I was then lodging at No. 22 rue de Rivoli. My windows were exactly opposite those of the Duc d'Orléans and he often used to answer by a sign requests such as I had just addressed to him. Such demands on my part were seldom asked; I always waited until the prince sent for me, for I knew that the king, and particularly the queen, looked askance at my visits to their son. So, next day, when I presented myself to the prince, he said-- "Ah, here you are! Why the deuce are you in such a hurry to see me?" "Ah, monseigneur, to ask a favour which I am sure you will grant me with great pleasure." "For whom, or of what is it about?" "I do not know, monseigneur, why you are so categorical with me; you know I am no purist." "Never mind, it is a good thing to prove that, although prince royal, I have had a college education." "Exactly, and it is of one of your college companions, monseigneur, I have come to speak." "Is there a single one left, by any chance, without a berth?" he asked. "Yes, monseigneur; I have discovered him." "Oh! you! You are capable of discovering any mortal thing." "Well, monseigneur, since I am the discoverer of the Mediterranean...!" "Well, what more have you discovered now?" "I have told you, one of your Royal Highness's college companions." "What is his name?" I drew the slip of paper from my pocket, ready for use at the first opportunity. "Louët, monseigneur." The duke uttered a cry. "Oh! that dunce!" he said. I looked at him with a smile and made a show of putting the paper back in my pocket. "Then, monseigneur," I said, "that alters matters." "How so?" "I have nothing further to ask your Highness." "Why?" I shrugged my shoulders. "Well, what is that slip of paper which you are putting back into your pocket and which you are dying to show me?" "I am still very anxious to show it you, it is true, monseigneur." "Very well, then, show it me!" "I dare not." "Give it me!" I held out my hand towards the prince and with the greatest submission, I handed him the paper. "Good!" he said; "it is sure to be some infernal machine." "Read it, monseigneur." The prince cast a glance at the scrap of paper and blushed red to his eyes. He blushed very easily, and granting this to be a weakness in him, it was one he shared in common with the Duc de Nemours and the Duc d'Aumale. "Ah! ah!" he said, when he had read it. Then, looking at me-- "Well, what does that prove?" he said. "That I was a bigger dunce even than he." "Monseigneur, you will, in that case, surely, do something to help your superior?" "What do you want me to do?" And at this he went quietly up to the fireplace, rolling the scrap of paper between his fingers. "Well, monseigneur, I sincerely hope you will find him a post." "Where?" "Near your own person."