"Monsieur admits that he was in possession of funds belonging to the accused." "Here they are, monsieur. I have never received any money for him except these four thousand livres, and I am ready to hand them to you." "Monsieur le Receveur," said Cauvignac, "as your commission authorizes you to do, take this money and give a receipt in his Majesty's name." Barrabas handed his commission to the attorney, who pushed it away with his hand, not choosing to insult him by reading it. "Now," said Cauvignac, while Barrabas, for fear of an error, was counting the money, "now you must come with me." "I must go with you?" "Certainly; didn't I tell you that you are under suspicion?" "But, monsieur, I swear to you that his Majesty has no more faithful servitor than myself." "It's not enough to swear to it, you must furnish proofs." "Very well, monsieur, I will furnish proofs." "Let's see them." "My whole past life." "That's not enough; we require a guaranty for the future." "Point out to me what I can do, and I will do it." "There is one infallible way of proving your devotion." "What is that?" "There is one of my friends, a captain, in Orléans at this moment, raising a company for the king." "Well?" "It would be well done of you to enlist in his company." "I, monsieur!--an attorney?" "The king is sorely in need of attorneys, monsieur, for his affairs are terribly involved." "I would do it willingly, monsieur; but what about my office?" "You can leave it to be run by your clerks." "Impossible! How could they arrange to procure my signature?" "Pardon, messieurs, if I venture to say a word," said Barrabas. "Most assuredly!" said the attorney; "say on, monsieur, say on." "It seems to me that if monsieur, who would make but a sorry soldier--" "Yes, monsieur, you are right; sorry, indeed," interposed the attorney. "If monsieur would offer your friend, or the king, in his stead--" "What, monsieur? what can I offer the king?" "His two clerks." "Why, certainly!" cried the attorney; "certainly, and with great pleasure. Let your friend take them both. I give them to him; they are two delightful fellows." "One of them seemed a mere child." "Fifteen, monsieur; he's fifteen; and a first-class performer on the drum.--Fricotin, step this way," he shouted. Cauvignac made a gesture with his hand, indicating that he desired Monsieur Fricotin to be left where he was. "What of the other?" he asked. "Eighteen, monsieur; five feet six inches tall, aspiring to become a porter at Saint-Sauveur, and, consequently, already familiar with the mode of handling a halberd.--This way, Chalumeau." "But he squints horribly, unless I am much mistaken," said Cauvignac, making a second gesture similar to the first. "So much the better, monsieur; so much the better! You can make him do sentry duty; and as he squints out, he can see both to right and left, while an ordinary man can only see straight ahead."