"I should not have ventured to enter unless for something of equal importance," replied Arpion. "Well, what is it? Tell me quickly, and aloud; for we are all friends here." "A man named Pierre des Avenelles--" began Arpion. De Braguelonne, Démocharès, and Lignières exclaimed simultaneously,-- "Pierre des Avenelles!" "That's the advocate of the Rue des Marmousets, who ordinarily entertains the Protestants at Paris," said Démocharès. "And upon whose house I have long had my eye," added De Braguelonne. "But the good man is very sly and careful, and has always eluded my surveillance. What does he want, Arpion?" "To speak with Monseigneur at once," replied the secretary. "He seems to me to be in a state of great alarm." "He cannot know anything," said Lignières, quickly and jealously. "Besides," he added, with lofty scorn, "he is an honest man." "We shall see; we shall see!" observed the grand inquisitor. (That was his favorite expression.) "Arpion," Monsieur de Braguelonne said to the secretary, "show this man in immediately." "I will, Monseigneur," said Arpion, leaving the room. "Pardon me, my dear Marquis," continued De Braguelonne, addressing Lignières, "this Des Avenelles knows you, and the unexpected sight of you might disturb him. And then, too, neither you nor I would care to have him know you were one of us. Be good enough to step into Arpion's closet while this interview is in progress; it is there at the end of the passage. I will recall you as soon as we have done with him. You might remain, if you will, Monsieur le Grand Inquisiteur, for your imposing presence cannot fail to be useful." "Very well; I will remain to please you," said Démocharès, well content. "And I will withdraw," said Lignières; "but remember what I say, Monsieur le Lieutenant. You will not learn anything of importance from this fellow Des Avenelles. A poor fool! A timid but upright soul! But of no particular account,--of no account at all." "We will do the best we can. But go, go, my dear Lignières! here is our man." In fact, Lignières had but just time to make his escape when a man entered, pale and trembling with nervous excitement, escorted, indeed, almost carried, by Master Arpion. It was Pierre des Avenelles, the advocate, whom we first-met with Sieur Lignières, at the meeting in the Place Maubert, where he made the success of the evening, if our readers remember, with his courageously timid speech. CHAPTER XIX AN INFORMER On the occasion of this, our second meeting with Pierre des Avenelles, he was all timidity, and had lost his courage. After bowing to the floor before Démocharès and De Braguelonne, he began in a faltering voice,-- "I am, I presume, in the presence of Monsieur le Lieutenant de Police?" "And of Monsieur le Grand Inquisiteur de la Foi," added De Braguelonne, waving his hand toward De Mouchy.