"Very good; I fly thither----" "One moment! Léodgard is under the same roof with--his wife; you will understand that you must give this letter into his own hands. Do not intrust it to any other person. Ask to speak with the count in private; see to it that there is no one with him when he reads my letter." "I understand, madame, I understand. Never fear! I see that mystery is necessary; I will act with all prudence." "Do not say, when you present yourself at the house, that you come from me; in that case, you would not be allowed access to Léodgard!" "I am not so stupid!--By the way, madame; this reply which, I make no doubt, the count will give me--where shall I deliver it to you?" "Come here again this evening, at nine o'clock; you will find Miretta here--she will await your coming." "Very good! And Miretta will--will hand me what madame la marquise is generous enough to promise me?" "I always fulfil my promises, monsieur." "Then I will go at once to Place Royale." "And at nine o'clock this evening----" "I will return here." The marchioness joined Miretta and walked rapidly away with her, while little Bahuchet, after fondling for a moment the purse filled with gold, thrust it into his belt, and hastened away toward Place Royale. And while all these things were happening, the Chevalier de Passedix, clad only in shirt, ruff, and funnel-shaped boots, paced the floor of his bathroom, stamping angrily and muttering: "Knave of a page! blackguard of an esquire! Where on earth are they? What has become of them? Cadédis! if this is the way those villains serve me, I will kick them out of my employ at the earliest possible moment!--But I shall not have the trouble of doing it if they do not return. Miserable knaves! they have robbed me again! They shall have a taste of Roland!--Woe to them if I ever fall in with them!" And in his rage Passedix seized his sword, drew it from the scabbard, and threatened everything within his reach; which performance caused the bath attendant, who had remained in one corner of the room, to shudder with fear. At last, losing patience, and feeling extremely cold, Passedix halted in front of him and said: "We must make an end of this! Come, varlet, take off your short-clothes instantly! be quick about it!" "Take off my short-clothes! What for?" "Sandis! so that I may put them on, of course! I can't stand here all day in my shirt!" "But I have no others, monsieur; and if you take mine, then I shall be in my shirt." "That makes no difference to me--a terrible calamity, truly, that you should be a little cool in your turn!" "No, no! I won't give you my short-clothes!" "Give them to me this instant, knave, and your miserable doublet too, or I'll run you through with Roland!"