"'Faith, viscount, I congratulate you, for they say that she is charming beyond compare. I hope you will present me to her, if the opportunity ever occurs. I am Baron de Canolles, captain in the Navailles regiment, and at present enjoying a leave of absence which Monsieur le Duc d'Épernon was pleased to grant me, at the recommendation of Mademoiselle de Lartigues." "Baron de Canolles!" cried the viscount, gazing at his companion with the curiosity naturally aroused by that name, renowned in the love intrigues of the time. "You know me?" said Canolles. "By reputation only," the viscount replied. "And by bad reputation, eh? What would you have? Every one follows his natural inclinations, and I love a life of excitement." "You are perfectly free, monsieur, to live as you choose," rejoined the viscount. "Permit me, however, to express one thought that comes to my mind." "What is it?" "That there is a woman yonder, deeply compromised for your sake, upon whom the duke will wreak vengeance for his disappointment in your regard." "The devil! do you think it?" "Of course; although she is a somewhat frail person, Mademoiselle de Lartigues is a woman none the less, and compromised by you; it is for you to look to her safety." "Gad! you are right, my young Nestor; and in the pleasure of conversing with you, I was near forgetting my obligations as a gentleman. We have been betrayed, and in all probability the duke knows all. It is very, true that Nanon is so clever that if she were warned in time, I would wager my life that she would make the duke apologize. Now let us see; are you acquainted with the art of war, young man?" "Not yet," replied the viscount, with a laugh; "but I fancy I am likely to learn it where I am going." "Well, here's your first lesson. In war, you know, when force is out of the question, we must resort to stratagem. Help me to carry out a stratagem." "I ask nothing better. But in what way? Tell me." "The inn has two doors." "I know nothing about that." "I know it; one that opens on the high-road, and another that opens into the fields. I propose to go out by the one that leads into the fields, describe a semi-circle, and knock at the back door of Nanon's house." "Yes, so that you may be caught in the house!" cried the viscount. "You would make a fine tactician, upon my word!" "Caught in the house?" repeated Canolles. "Why, to be sure. The duke, tired of waiting, and failing to see you leave the inn, will go to the house himself." "Yes; but I will simply go in and out again." "Once inside, you won't come out." "There's no doubt about it, young man," said Canolles, "you are a magician." "You will be surprised, perhaps killed before her eyes; that's all there is about it." "Pshaw!" said Canolles, "there are closets there." "Oh!" exclaimed the viscount.