“You do not know Choiseul.” “Excuse me, but I believe I do. He is a gentleman, he knows that I am a gentleman and he will take my word.” “Choiseul will have you arrested the instant you leave this hôtel. He would arrest you now only he does not wish to make a scene.” “I am going to explain to him.” “Where?” “Here.” “And how are you going to obtain an interview with him?” “You must do that for me.” “I?” “Yes, you are the proper person. Go to him and say, ‘Rochefort wishes to speak to you on a matter of great importance.’ You can say to him also if you like, ‘He asked me to say that he came here to-night not as your guest, but as a gentleman who has been lied against and misunderstood and who wishes to lay his case before the first gentleman in France, after his Majesty.’” “Words, words,” said Sartines. “He will crumple them up and fling them in your face.” “He will not. Choiseul is a gentleman and will listen to me.” “Ay, he will listen to you—you are like a child with your talk of ‘gentleman—gentleman.’ However, you are not quite lost. You had a letter of Choiseul’s.” “I?” “Yes, you took it from the saddle-bag of a horse.” “Oh, that!” “Yes. Well, I have that letter in my pocket.” “How did you get it?” “You gave it to a girl—like a fool—to send back to Choiseul, and the girl, who seems to have cared for you a lot, opened it.” “Ah, Javotte! Little meddler——” “Read it.” “Yes—yes!” “And found that it was a—what shall I say?—a revelation of how Choiseul had plotted against the Dubarry and a libel on his Majesty. It was written in a moment of anger, it was one of the false steps men make who have not control of their temper. With this letter in your hand you are safe from Choiseul. He, of course, knows that the thing was taken from the saddle-bag of the horse, but I doubt if he suspects you as having taken it, simply because in the ordinary course you would have used it against him before this.” “How did you get this letter?” “The girl gave it to my agent, Lavenne, making him promise that it was to be used only for your protection. Now we have some honour amongst us at the Hôtel de Sartines, otherwise this—um—treasonable document would have been laid by this before his Majesty for the good of the State. Lavenne, to-night, knowing that you would be here, gave it to me to give to you.” “Let me have it.” “Come into this corridor, then.” Sartines led the way between two curtains into a corridor giving entrance to the _salon_ where to-night refreshments were being served. He handed the letter to Rochefort, who hastily put it in his pocket. “Thanks,” said Rochefort. “This will make the matter easier for me. Or at least it will serve as an introduction to our business. And now, like a good fellow, obtain for me my interview with Choiseul.” They went back against a tide of people setting in the direction of the room where the buffet was laid out and where little tables were set about for the guests.