"And you do not know that he is Comte Léodgard de Marvejols?" "The young Comte de Marvejols!--Peste!" "You lie, Monsieur Bahuchet; for you told us about Comte Léodgard long ago, and you knew him perfectly well then!" "It is difficult to deceive you, my pretty brunette!" said Bahuchet, scratching his ear; "I said that I didn't know the lover, because he ordered me not to know him; but, between ourselves, I think we may speak more frankly. It is a bargain; I will take the letter to the count." "Do you know where he lives?" "I know quite well that it is not with his wife. Say to your beautiful mistress that her commission will be executed to-day.--She must have pitied me when she learned how horribly I was maltreated in her house the last time that I had the honor to call there?" "We did not know about it until a long time after, and then only through the indiscretion of one of the servants, upon whom absolute secrecy had been enjoined." "So that Monsieur le Marquis de Santoval got wind of something? Is the man a tiger, a rhinoceros?" "I know no more of him than you do, and I have no time to talk.--Adieu, Monsieur Bahuchet; and do not forget to carry the letter to Comte Léodgard!" "It is as if he had it, piquant brunette!--By the way, are you still inclined to assume the defence of the famous Giovanni?" "Giovanni! Giovanni!" murmured Miretta, whose face had become deathly pale; and she uttered a profound sigh. "But I beg your pardon, my dear; I do not know why I speak to you of the illustrious brigand, for they say that he has not shown himself in Paris for more than six months--or, at all events, that he has not attacked anybody--which makes it fair to presume that he has left our city! I' faith, for my part, I am not sorry, and I wish him a pleasant journey; let him go elsewhere to get himself hanged!" Miretta walked sadly away, murmuring: "Gone away! oh, yes! he has gone away! He has left France without me! He has abandoned me--and still I cannot believe it!" XLIV PLACE ROYALE It was not easy to obtain access to the Comte de Marvejols when one called at the house in Rue de Bretonvilliers. But Bahuchet persisted, although the concierge told him that the count did not choose to receive visitors. "Please to say to him that it is Bahuchet, the solicitor's clerk, the young man of the little wine shop; and I will wager that your master will receive me instantly." The concierge ushered him into a room in the right wing, and went to the wing at the rear, where Léodgard then was. After waiting a long while, the concierge returned and said to the young clerk: "Monsieur le comte will come; wait." "Why, in heaven's name, don't you take me to him? It seems to me that that would be much simpler than to make him put himself out to come here." "Monsieur le comte never receives anybody in the wing that he occupies."