This was far from pleasant news. What should I do now? My first idea was to explain matters to the innkeeper, but would he believe the story? Maubranne had already accused me of being a spy, and if any of the people at the inn entertained the same notion I felt it would be the worse for me. Besides, a week was not long, and Raoul might return even sooner. "He will either come or send at once," I thought, "and not much harm can happen in a few days." As a matter of fact I was afraid to trust the innkeeper with my story. It would have been of little consequence in ordinary times, but just then one could hardly tell friend from foe. Three days slipped by pleasantly enough. Each evening I wandered into the streets of the city, looking with interest at the crowds of people, the splendid buildings, the gaily-dressed roysterers, the troops of Guards in their rich uniforms, the gorgeous equipages of the ladies, and the thousand strange sights that Paris presented to a provincial. At first I found it rather difficult to make my way back to the inn, but by careful observation I gradually acquired a knowledge of the district. Once I summoned courage to accost a soldier of the Guards, and to inquire if M. Belloc had returned from his journey. Looking rather contemptuously at my rusty dress, he answered, "Do you mean M. Belloc of the Cardinal's household?" "The same," I said. "I am sorry, monsieur, but he is still out of Paris, or at least he is supposed to be, which amounts to the same thing. But if you wish particularly to see him, why not seek audience of the Cardinal?" "Thanks, my friend; I had not thought of that." The soldier smiled, nodded, and went on his way, humming an air as if well-pleased with himself. "Seek audience of the Cardinal?" The bare idea froze up my courage; I would as soon have entered a den of lions! "No, no," I thought, "better to wait for Raoul." During this time no message had come from him, but on the fourth evening, as I was setting out for my usual promenade, a servant announced a messenger with an urgent letter. "Show him up," I cried briskly, anxious to learn the nature of my comrade's communication, and hoping it would foretell his speedy arrival. The messenger's appearance rather surprised me, but I was too full of Raoul to pay much attention to his servant. Still, I noticed he was a small, weazened, mean-looking fellow, quite a dwarf, in fact, with sharp, keen eyes and a general air of cunning. "You have a letter for me?" said I, stretching out my hand. "Monsieur de Lalande?" he asked questioningly, with just the slightest possible tinge of suspicion, and I nodded. "It is to be hoped that no one saw you come in here, monsieur!" "Waste no more words, but give me the letter; it may be important." "It is," he answered, "of the utmost importance, and my master wishes it to be read without delay."