The Marquis de Santoval entered his wife's room and scrutinized the little clerk, who bowed to the floor. The marquis paused in the middle of the room, saying: "I disturb you, madame; you have visitors." "Not at all, monsieur. My aunt, Madame de Ravenelle, has sent her solicitor's clerk with this document for me to sign. It is nothing very interesting, as you see--the sale of an old house, I believe, is it not?" Bahuchet hastened to reply in his shrill falsetto: "Yes, madame, the sale of the estate described herein, situated on Rue de la Parcheminerie, which street takes its name from the guild of workmen who once lived there, as the custom formerly was; so that we have Rues de la Ferronnerie, de la Heaumerie, de la Coutellerie, and many others. But as Paris increased in size----" "Very good, young man, very good," said the marquis; "madame has signed, I believe?" "Yes, monsieur le marquis, that is true; and I have only to take my leave." And the little clerk pocketed the deed, saluted, and left the room. Monsieur de Santoval remained for some time talking with his wife. But when he had left her, he called his valet and said: "Did you see a very small man, with his nose in the air, who went away from the house not long ago?" "Yes, monsieur le marquis." "If he comes again to speak with madame, follow him when he goes away; see where he goes, and ascertain whether he speaks to anybody on leaving here. Do you understand?" "Perfectly, monsieur le marquis; and your orders shall be carried out." "I rely upon it; for I am well aware of your zeal and intelligence." XLIII ANOTHER THRASHING Léodgard was but partially satisfied with the result of his message. The marchioness had smiled, and had placed the letter over her heart. To be sure, that did not indicate that she was annoyed with him who had written it; but it advanced his love affair very little. "And now you have no excuse for going again to the marchioness's, have you?" the count asked his messenger. Whereupon the little clerk drew himself up, placed his hand proudly on his hip, and replied with a self-satisfied air: "We always have one, monseigneur; we are never at a loss for expedients, God be praised! This time we told the lady to omit one of her names when she signed the deed. That will suffice to require us to return for the rectification of that error.--Ha! ha! that was not bad!--But if we had not that pretext, we would invent a thousand others." "Very good! I see that you are a sharp-witted youth." "I dare to flatter myself that I am, seigneur." "Take this money, and come again to this same wine shop four days hence; I will then give you another letter for the marchioness." "Agreed, monsieur le comte; and be sure that on that day I will arrange still another pretext for returning to the house."