“You fill me with alarm,” said Fleurissoire; “the same thing happened to me the evening I arrived--yesterday, that is--I fell in with a guide to whom I entrusted my portmanteau, and who talked French.” “Good heavens!” cried the _curé_, struck with terror; “could his name have been Baptistin?” “Baptistin! That was it!” wailed Amédée, who felt his knees giving way beneath him. “Unhappy man! What did you say to him?” The _curé_ pressed his arm. “Nothing that I can remember.” “Think! Think! Try to remember, for Heaven’s sake!” “No, really!” stammered Amédée, terrified; “I don’t think I said anything to him.” “What did you let out?” “No, nothing, I assure you. But you do well to warn me.” “What hotel did he take you to?” “I’m not in a hotel. I’m in private lodgings.” “God save us! But you must be somewhere.” “Oh, I’m in a little street which you certainly don’t know,” stuttered Fleurissoire, in great confusion. “It’s of no consequence. I won’t stay on there.” “Be very careful! If you leave suddenly, it’ll look as if you suspected something.” “Yes, perhaps it will. You’re right. I had better not leave at once.” “How I thank a merciful Heaven that you arrived in Rome to-day! One day later and I should have missed you! To-morrow--no later than to-morrow--I’m obliged to leave for Naples in order to see a saintly and important personage, who is secretly devoting himself to the cause.” “Could it be the Cardinal San-Felice?” asked Fleurissoire, trembling with emotion. The _curé_ took a step or two back in amazement: “How did you know?” Then drawing nearer: “But why should I be astonished? He is the only person in Naples who is in the secret.” “Do you ... know him?” “Do I know him? Alas! my dear sir, it is to him I owe.... But no matter! Were you thinking of going to see him?” “I suppose so; if I must.” “He is the best of men....” With a rapid whisk of his hand, he wiped the corner of his eye. “You know where to find him, of course?” “I suppose anyone could tell me. Everyone knows him in Naples.” “Naturally! But I don’t suppose you are going to inform all Naples of your visit. Surely, you can’t have been told of his participation in ... you know what, and perhaps entrusted with some message for him, without having been instructed at the same time how to gain access to him.” “Pardon me,” said Fleurissoire timidly, for Arnica had given him no such instructions. “What! were you meaning to go and see him straight off--in the archbishop’s palace, perhaps!--and speak to him point-blank?” “I confess that....” “But are you aware, sir,” went on the other severely, “are you aware that you run the risk of getting _him_ imprisoned too?” He seemed so deeply vexed that Fleurissoire did not dare to speak. “So sacred a cause confided to such imprudent hands!” murmured Protos, and he took the end of a rosary out of his pocket, then put it back again, then crossed himself feverishly; then turning to his companion: