"The secret leaders as well as the avowed ones. The former are the Prince de Condé and the admiral; while the avowed leaders are La Renaudie, Castelnau, Mazères--But it would take too long to enumerate them all. See, here is a list of their names, and of the provinces as well which they are respectively expected to incite to rebellion." "Great God of mercy! How skilful are the police, and what fools the conspirators!" cried Des Avenelles. "Is there not, then, the least little word which I can tell you, which you do not already know? The Prince de Condé and La Renaudie, for instance,--do you know where they are?" "Together in Paris." "Why, this is frightful! And there is nothing left for me to do but to commend my soul to God! Yet, stay!--one word more, in pity's name! Whereabouts in Paris are they?" Monsieur de Braguelonne did not immediately reply, but with his clear and piercing glance seemed to be reading Des Avenelles's soul and his eyes to their lowest depths. The latter, with labored breath, repeated his question,--"Do you know in what part of Paris the Prince de Condé and La Renaudie now are, Monseigneur?" "We shall have no difficulty in finding them," replied Monsieur de Braguelonne. "But you haven't found them yet!" cried Des Avenelles, with delight. "Ah! God be praised! I may still win my pardon. _I_ know where they are, Monseigneur." Démocharès's eye glistened; but the lieutenant of police concealed his satisfaction. "Pray, where are they?" he said in the most indifferent tone imaginable. "At my house, Messieurs, at my house!" said the advocate, proudly. "I knew it," calmly replied Monsieur de Braguelonne. "What do you say,--you knew that, too?" ejaculated Des Avenelles, whose cheeks lost their color again. "To be sure I did; but I wished to test your good faith. Come, it is all right, and I am content with you! Your case was a very serious one, to say the least. To think of having sheltered such great villains!" "You made yourself quite as guilty as they," said Démocharès, sententiously. "Oh, don't say so, Monseigneur!" rejoined Des Avenelles. "I feared I was incurring great risks, and I have hardly dared to breathe since I have known the horrible plans of my two guests. But I have known them only three days,--only three days, I solemnly swear! You should know that I was not present at the Nantes gathering. When the Prince de Condé and the Seigneur de la Renaudie arrived at my house in the early part of this week, I believed myself to be harboring adherents of the Reformed religion, but not conspirators. I have a holy horror of conspirators and conspiracies! They said nothing to me on the subject at first; and it is that for which I am angry with them. Thus to expose to deadly peril, without his knowledge, a poor fellow who had never done them aught but good turns,--that was very wrong. But these great personages never do otherwise."