“Do you know, monseigneur, who was at the bottom of this cruel wrong?”

“I presume I do; but I have reasons to wish for certainty,” replied Talleyrand.  “Return to Troyes; bring me the Comtesse de Cinq-Cygne, here, to-morrow at the same hour, but secretly; ask to be ushered into Madame de Talleyrand’s salon; I will tell her you are coming.  If Mademoiselle de Cinq-Cygne, who shall be placed where she can see a man who will be standing before me, recognizes that man as an individual who came to her house during the conspiracy of de Polignac and Riviere, tell her to remember that, no matter what I say or what he answers me, she must not utter a word nor make a gesture.  One thing more, think only of saving the de Simeuse brothers; don’t embarrass yourself with that scoundrel of a bailiff—­”

“A sublime man, monseigneur!” exclaimed Bordin.

“Enthusiasm! in you, Bordin!  The man must be remarkable.  Our sovereign has an immense self-love, Monsieur le marquis,” he said, changing the conversation.  “He is about to dismiss me that he may commit follies without warning.  The Emperor is a great soldier who can change the laws of time and distance, but he cannot change men; yet he persists in trying to run them in his own mould!  Now, remember this; the young men’s pardon can be obtained by one person only—­Mademoiselle de Cinq-Cygne.”

The marquis went alone to Troyes and told the whole matter to Laurence.  She obtained permission from the authorities to see Michu, and the marquis accompanied her to the gates of the prison, where he waited for her.  When she came out her face was bathed in tears.

“Poor man!” she said; “he tried to kneel to me, praying that I would not think of him, and forgetting the shackles that were on his feet!  Ah, marquis, I will plead his cause.  Yes, I’ll kiss the boot of their Emperor.  If I fail—­well, the memory of that man shall live eternally honored in our family.  Present his petition for mercy so as to gain time; meantime I am resolved to have his portrait.  Come, let us go.”

The next day, when Talleyrand was informed by a sign agreed upon that Laurence was at her post, he rang the bell; his orderly came to him, and received orders to admit Monsieur Corentin.

“My friend, you are a very clever fellow,” said Talleyrand, “and I wish to employ you.”

“Monsiegneur—­”

“Listen.  In serving Fouche you will get money, but never honor nor any position you can acknowledge.  But in serving me, as you have lately done at Berlin, you can win credit and repute.”

“Monseigneur is very good.”

“You displayed genius in that late affair at Gondreville.”

“To what does Monseigneur allude?” said Corentin, with a manner that was neither too reserved nor too surprised.

“Ah, Monsieur!” observed the minister, dryly, “you will never make a successful man; you fear—­”

“What, monseigneur?”