On the morrow, as soon as it was day, Urbain went out to try and find the one on whom he placed his last hopes. He obtained information as to the marquis' hotel, and he soon arrived there. "Monsieur le Marquis de Villebelle?" said he entering the court, and timidly addressing the porter. "This is his hotel, but monsieur le marquis is not in Paris." "Is not in Paris?" exclaimed Urbain, his heart contracting. "No, he is travelling." "Travelling? And will he soon be back?" "He'll come back when he pleases. Do you think monseigneur needs your permission in order to go travelling?" "That was not what I wished to say, monsieur, but I am in such haste to see monsieur le marquis, to speak to him." "You can see him when he comes back, whenever monseigneur is willing to receive you." The insolent porter returned to his lodge, took his glass and his fork, and resumed a copious breakfast, without paying any further attention to the young student, who remained in the court, heaving big sighs, as he said,-- "He's not in Paris; how unfortunate I am." Ten minutes later Urbain softly approached the porter's lodge, and said to him in a supplicating tone,-- "Monsieur, can you not tell me where the marquis has gone?" "What? Are you still there?" answered the porter without turning his head. "Can't you leave me to eat my breakfast in peace? I tell you that monseigneur is travelling. There are some people who are so stubborn; they all say the same thing, 'I wish to see monseigneur,' and they bother my head from morning till night." Urbain would not be repulsed; he knew the customs of Paris, and took out his purse, in which he had put several crowns, and made it chink in his hand. Then the porter deigned to turn towards him, and said to him, a little more politely,-- "I'm truly sorry, but monseigneur is really absent, and between ourselves, I believe he will be so for a long time." "O heavens!" said Urbain, "and he is my only hope. Oh, monsieur, if you know where monseigneur is, I entreat you to give me his address." The young man held out his purse and advanced. "Come in for a moment," said the porter opening the little door of his lodge; "yes, of course, I know where monseigneur is. It's very necessary that we should know that, in order that we may send him any important letters that may be addressed to him; but it's a secret. However, if you'll promise to be discreet, and to let nobody know that it was I who told you,--" "I swear to you not to do so." "Then I'll tell you. Monsieur le marquis is at his Chateau de Sarcus, situated in the neighborhood of Grandvilliers. Take the road to Beauvais and--" Urbain did not wait to hear more; he threw his purse on the porter's table, hastily left the hotel, ran to his lodging, took all the money he had left, and the same day set out to seek the marquis at his chateau. CHAPTER XII THE RETURN TO THE CHATEAU