"Very well, monsieur; instead of taking the plume to this Bathilde's mother, hand it to her father, Landry the bath keeper; then, if he resorts to violence, you can pay him back twice or thrice." The little clerk scratched his ear and opened his nostrils wider than ever; he saw that the young lady had no faith in his courage; however, he made up his mind at last and took both plume and purse, saying: "I will do as you first suggested, mademoiselle; I will hand this plume to Dame Ragonde; I think that that will be the better way; and as for her claws, I will brave them without a tremor." "And if she should ask who sent you?" "No one! I am acting on my own account. I picked up the plume, and I bring it back; and that will be no falsehood." "Very good; discretion so far as I am concerned, monsieur, is what I especially enjoin upon you. You will carry this plume to the bath keeper's to-day?" "It shall be handed to Dame Ragonde to-day." "If my errand is left undone, I warn you that I shall know it!" "It shall be done; I swear it by the Basoche!" "Au revoir, Monsieur Bahuchet!" "Mademoiselle, I have the honor to present my respectful homage.--Bonsoir, pretty brunette! Oh! what eyes you make at me, my dear!--Come, come! be calm! I won't speak ill of robbers again!" "Well!" said Valentine to Miretta, who sat as if lost in thought after the solicitor's clerk had gone. "You say nothing, Miretta; is it because you do not approve of what I have done?" "That poor girl! She will be very unhappy when her parents know of her fault!" murmured Miretta, with a sigh. "And suppose another woman should become the mistress of the man you love?" rejoined Valentine, seizing her maid's arm; "would not you be revenged?" "Oh, yes! yes! You have done well!" And Miretta raised her eyes, which seemed to emit flames. XXVIII PLUMARD On leaving the Hôtel de Mongarcin on this occasion, Bahuchet did not jostle the passers-by or jingle the money in his purse; the little clerk was beginning to be accustomed to windfalls. Moreover, at that moment his joy was moderated by another sentiment. He had carefully concealed the white plume under his doublet; then he had counted the contents of the purse twice over. He found therein a hundred livres tournois in coins of various denominations, and he gazed with admiration at the money; then he carefully bestowed the purse in his belt, saying to himself: