"Laugh if you please, but I will not budge. Madame la Princesse promised me that you should go with me, and I agreed to make the journey only on that condition." "That's as you please, viscount," said Richon, with assumed gravity. "However, they count upon you at Chantilly; and have a care, for princes soon lose patience, especially when they expect money." "To cap the climax," said the viscount, "I must start during the night--" "So much the better," laughed Richon; "no one will see that you are afraid, and you will encounter greater cowards than yourself, who will run away from you." "You think so?" said the viscount, by no means at ease, despite this reassuring suggestion. "But there's another way of arranging the matter," said Richon; "your fear is for the money, is it not? Very well, leave the money with me, and I will send it by three or four trustworthy men. But, believe me, the best way to make sure that it arrives safely is to carry it yourself." "You are right, and I will go, Richon; as my bravery must go all lengths, I will keep the money. I fancy that her Highness, judging by what you tell me, is even more in need of the money than of myself; so perhaps I should not be welcome if I arrived empty-handed." "I told you, when I first came, that you have a very martial air; moreover, the king's soldiers are everywhere, and there is no war as yet; however, don't trust to them too much, but bid Pompée load his pistols." "Do you say that simply to encourage me?" "Of course; he who realizes his danger doesn't allow himself to be taken by surprise. You had best go now," continued Richon, rising; "the night will be fine, and you can be at Monlieu before morning." "Will our friend, the baron, play the spy when we go?" "Oh! at this moment he is doing what we have just done,--eating his supper, that is to say; and although his supper may not have been as good as ours, he is too much of a _bon-vivant_ to leave the table without a weighty reason. But I will go down and keep his attention diverted." "Apologize to him for me for my rudeness. I don't choose that he shall pick a quarrel with me, if we meet some day when he is less generously disposed than to-day; for your baron must be a very punctilious sort of fellow." "You have hit the right word; he would be just the man to follow you to the ends of the world simply to cross swords with you; but I will make your excuses, never fear." "Do so by all means; but wait till I am gone." "You may be very sure that I will." "Have you no message for her Highness?" "Indeed I have; you remind me of the most important thing of all." "Have you written to her?" "No; there are but two words to say to her." "What are they?" "_Bordeaux.--Yes._" "She will know what they mean?" "Perfectly; and on the faith of those two words she may set out in full confidence; you may say to her that I will answer for everything."