"I perceive that he cheated me shamefully. What you have given me for two sous, he would hardly have given me for four; but if there is no justice here there is in heaven, and it is very providential that you are to continue his business." "I believe so," said Tapin, in a half voice, "particularly for his customers." And he dismissed the woman just as the door opened, and a young man entered, dressed in a blue cloak. "Is this the hotel Le Muids d'Amour?" asked he. "Yes, monsieur." "Does Captain la Jonquiere lodge here?" "Yes, monsieur." "Is he within?" "Yes, he has just returned." "Tell him, if you please, that the Chevalier Gaston de Chanlay is here." Tapin offered the chevalier a chair, and went into La Jonquiere's room. Gaston shook the snow from his boots and cloak, and proceeded leisurely to examine the picture on the wall, never supposing that he had close to him three or four swords, which, at a sign from the polite host, would leave their sheaths to be plunged into his breast. Tapin returned, saying, "Captain la Jonquiere waits for M. de Chanlay." Gaston proceeded to the room where sat a man whom the host pointed out as Captain la Jouquiere, and--without being much of a physiognomist--he perceived at once that he was no bully. Little, dry, gray-eyed, uneasy in his uniform, such appeared the formidable captain whom Gaston had been recommended to treat with so much consideration. "This man is ugly, and looks like a sexton," thought Gaston; then, as the stranger advanced toward him-- "Have I the honor of speaking to Captain la Jonquiere?" asked Gaston. "Himself," said Dubois; "and are you M. le Chevalier Gaston de Chanlay?"----"I am, monsieur." "Have you the sign of recognition?" asked the false La Jonquiere. "Here is the half of the gold piece." "And here the other," said Dubois. They tried the two, which fitted exactly. "And now," continued Gaston, "the papers;" and he drew from his pocket the strangely folded paper, on which was written the name of La Jonquiere. Dubois took from his pocket a similar paper, bearing Gaston's name: they were precisely alike. "Now," said Gaston, "the pocket-book." They found that their new pocket-books were precisely similar, and both, though new, contained an almanac for the year 1700, nineteen years previous. "And now, monsieur," said Gaston. "Now we will talk of business: is not that your meaning, chevalier?" "Exactly; are we safe?" "As though in a desert." They seated themselves by a table, on which were a bottle of sherry and two glasses. Dubois filled one, and was about to fill the other, when Gaston stopped him. "Peste!" thought Dubois, "he is slender and sober, bad signs; Cæsar mistrusted thin people who did not drink, and Brutus and Cassius were such."