At the sight of the Cardinal the Count of Plouernel ran to the door, and repeatedly and effusively embracing his uncle, gently pushed him back into the salon from which he came. The valet, like the experienced menial that he was, discreetly shut the door of the boudoir upon his master, and drew the bolt. CHAPTER V. CARDINAL AND COUNT. Cardinal Plouernel was a man of sixty-five years of age, lean, lank and leathery of skin. Except for the difference in age, he was possessed of the identical type of face as his nephew. His long neck, bald head, large and crooked nose like the beak of a bird of prey, and wide-set, round and penetrating eyes, imparted to his physiognomy, if analyzed and the high grade of intelligence that they denoted left out of consideration, a singular resemblance to that of a vulture. To sum up, the priest, if clad in his red robes of Prince of the Church, could not choose but present a fear-inspiring aspect. On a visit to his nephew, he was clad simply in a long black coat, strictly buttoned up to his throat. "Pardon, dear uncle," said the Count, smiling. "Not being aware of your return to town, I did not expect this matitudinal call." The Cardinal was not the man to be astonished at a colonel of dragoons keeping a mistress. He made answer in his brief manner: "I am pressed for time. Let us talk to the point. On my way from abroad I made a wide tour through France. We are on the verge of a revolution." "Indeed, uncle?" asked the colonel incredulously. "Do you really believe--" "I believe a revolution is at hand." "But, uncle--" "Have you available funds about you? If not, I can help you out." "Funds--what for?" "To exchange into gold, or for good drafts upon London. The latter are more convenient on a voyage." "What! A voyage, uncle? What voyage?" "The voyage that you are to make by keeping me company. We shall depart this evening." "Depart--this evening!" "Would you prefer to serve the Republic?" "The Republic!" exclaimed the Count of Plouernel. "What Republic?" "The one that will be proclaimed in Paris, within shortly, after the downfall of Louis Philippe." "The downfall of Louis Philippe! The Republic in France--and within shortly!" "Yes, the French Republic--one, and indivisible--proclaimed in our interest--provided we know how to wait--" And the Cardinal indulged in a singular smile as he inhaled a pinch of snuff. The Count contemplated him dumbfounded. He looked as if he had just dropped down from the clouds. "I see, my poor Gonthram, you must have been either blind or deaf," the Cardinal proceeded, shrugging his shoulders. "Do you see nothing in those revolutionary banquets that have succeeded one another throughout the principal cities of France during the last three months?" "Ha! Ha! Ha! uncle," answered the Count, laughing out aloud; "do you take those bibbers of blue wine, those swallowers of veal--at twenty sous a plate--to be capable of making a revolution?"