"That's an advantage, I agree; but you understand that the king is in sore straits financially; pleading with cannon-balls is much more costly than pleading with words. The king cannot burden himself with the equipment of these two youngsters; it's quite all he can do to undertake to train and pay them." "Monsieur," said Rabodin, "if that is all that is necessary to prove my devotion to the king--why, I will make the sacrifice." Cauvignac and Barrabas looked at each other. "What do you think, Monsieur le Receveur?" said Cauvignac. "I think that monsieur seems to be acting in good faith," Barrabas replied. "And that we must be considerate with him, eh? Give monsieur a receipt for five hundred livres." "Five hundred livres!" "A receipt for that sum to pay for the equipment of two young soldiers, whom Master Rabodin in his zeal offers his Majesty." "May I expect to be left at peace in consideration of this sacrifice, monsieur?" "I think so." "Shall I not be molested?" "I hope not." "And suppose that I am prosecuted, without regard to justice?" "You are at liberty to make use of my testimony. But will your two clerks consent?" "They will be overjoyed." "You are sure of it?" "Yes. But it would be best not to tell them--" "Of the honor in store for them, eh?" "It would be more prudent." "What are we to do, then?" "Oh! it's a simple matter enough. I will send them to your friend. What is his name?" "Captain Cauvignac." "I will send them to your friend Captain Cauvignac, upon some pretext or other; it had better be somewhere outside of Orléans, to avoid a possible scandal." "Yes, and so that the Orléanais may not be seized with the desire to scourge you with rods, as Camillus did the schoolmaster in ancient times." "I will send them to him, then, outside the city." "On the high-road from Orléans to Tours, for example." "At the first public-house." "Yes; they will find Captain Cauvignac at table. He will offer them a glass of wine and they will accept. He will propose the king's health, which they will drink with enthusiasm, and there they are soldiers! Now you may call them." The attorney called the young men. Fricotin was a little fellow, hardly four feet tall, thick-set, quick and active; Chalumeau was a great booby of five feet six, thin as an asparagus-stalk, and red as a carrot. "Messieurs," said Cauvignac, "Master Rabodin here proposes to show his confidence in you by sending you upon an errand of importance. To-morrow morning you will go to the first inn outside the city on the Tours road, to fetch a package of papers relating to the suit of Captain Cauvignac against Monsieur de La Rochefoucauld. Master Rabodin will give you twenty-five livres each for the service." Fricotin, who was a credulous youth, leaped three feet into the air. But Chalumeau, who was by nature suspicious, looked at Cauvignac and the attorney at the same moment, with an expression of doubt which made him squint three times as badly as usual.