"Stay, stay!" exclaimed Master Rabodin; "one moment. I didn't agree to pay the fifty livres." "Which sum," continued the false exempt, "Master Rabodin will recoup in his fees in the suit between Captain Cauvignac and Monsieur le Duc de La Rochefoucauld." Master Rabodin hung his head; he was fairly caught. He must go through the door that was pointed out to him, or else through the door of a prison. "Very good," said he. "I consent; but I hope you will give me a receipt for all this." "Look at this," said Barrabas, "and see if I haven't anticipated your desire;" and he handed him a paper on which these words were written:-- "Received from Master Rabodin, his Majesty's faithful subject, the sum of five hundred livres, as a voluntary offering, to assist him in his war against the princes." "If you insist," said Barrabas, "I will put the two clerks in the receipt." "No, no," said the attorney, hastily; "it's quite right as it is." "By the way," said Cauvignac, "tell Fricotin to bring his drum, and Chalumeau his halberd; it will be so much less to buy." "But on what pretext shall I tell them to do that?" "_Pardieu!_ as a means of amusing themselves on the road." With that the pretended exempt and pretended collector took their departure, leaving Master Rabodin bewildered at the thought of the danger he had escaped, and only too happy to have come so well out of it. VI. The next morning everything passed off as Cauvignac had planned. The nephew and godson were the first to arrive, both mounted on the same horse; then came Fricotin and Chalumeau, one with his drum, the other with his halberd. There was some little opposition to be overcome when it was explained to them that they had the honor of being enrolled in the service of the princes; but all opposition vanished before the threats of Cauvignac, the promises of Ferguzon, and the logic of Barrabas. The horse of the nephew and godson was assigned to the duty of carrying the baggage, and as Cauvignac's commission authorized him to raise a company of infantry, the two raw recruits could say nothing.