“You know what I mean.  Shall I take the house into our confidence?”

“The house knows as much of your meaning as I. See here, friend of Bernet, if you are that gentleman’s mate, perhaps you have a password about you.”

“Aye,” said M. Etienne, readily.  “This is it:  twenty pistoles.”

No answer came immediately; I could guess Peyrot puzzled.  Presently he called to us: 

“By the bones of St. Anne, I don’t believe a word you’ve been saying.  But I’ll have you in and see what you look like.”

We heard him getting into his boots again and buckling on his baldric.  Then we listened to the turning of a key; a lid was raised and banged down again, and the lock refastened.  It was the box once more.  M. Etienne and I looked at each other.

At length Peyrot opened the door and surveyed us.

“What, two friends of Bernet, ventre bleu!” But he allowed us to enter.

He drew back before us with a flourishing bow, his hand resting lightly on his belt, in which was stuck a brace of pistols.  Any idea of doing violence on the person of M. Peyrot we dismissed for the present.

Our eyes travelled from his pistols over the rest of him.  He was small, lean, and wiry, with dark, sharp face and deep-set twinkling eyes.  One moment’s glance gave us to know that Peyrot was no fool.

My lord closed the door after him and went straight to the point.

“M.  Peyrot, you were engaged last night in an attack on the Duke of St. Quentin.  You did not succeed in slaying him, but you did kill his man, and you took from him a packet.  I come to buy it.”

He looked at us a little dazed, not understanding, I deem, how we knew this.  Certes, it had been too dark in the lane for his face to be seen, and he had doubtless made sure that he was not followed home.  He said directly: 

“You are the Comte de Mar.”

“Even so, M. Peyrot.  I did not care to have the whole stair know it, but to you I have no hesitation in confiding that I am M. de Mar.”

M. Peyrot swept a bow till his head almost touched the floor.

“My poor apartment is honoured.”

As he louted low, I made a spring forward; I thought to pin him before he could rise.  But he was up with the lightness of a bird from the bough and standing three yards away from me, where I crouched on the spring like a foiled cat.  He grinned at me in open enjoyment.

“Monsieur desired?” he asked sympathetically.

“No, it is I who desire,” said M. Etienne, clearing himself a place to sit on the corner of the table.  “I desire that packet, monsieur.  You know this little expedition of yours to-night was something of a failure.  When you report to the general-duke, he will not be in the best of humours.  He does not like failures, the general; he will not incline to reward you dear.  While I am in the very best humour in the world.”