Half an hour after the conference of the sub-prefect and Courtin a
_gendarme_ was making his way among the groups, looking for the
general, whom he found talking very amicably with a respectable old
beggar in rags. The _gendarme_ said a word in the general's ear, and
the latter at once made his way to the little inn of the Cheval Blanc.
The sub-prefect stood in the doorway.
"Well?" asked the general, noticing the highly satisfied look on the
face of the public functionary.
"Ah, general! great news and good news!" replied the sub-prefect.
"Let's hear it."
"The man I've had to deal with is really very clever."
"Fine news, indeed! they are all very clever. The greatest fool among
them could give points to Monsieur de Talleyrand. What has he told
you, this clever man?"
"He saw the Comte de Bonneville, disguised as a peasant, enter the
château de Souday last night, and with the count was another little
peasant, whom he thinks was a woman--"
"What next?"
"Next! why there's no doubt, general."
"Go on, monsieur; I am all impatience," said the general, in the
calmest tone.
"I mean to say that in my opinion the woman is no other than the one
we have been told to look out for,--namely, the princess."
"There may be no doubt for you; there are a dozen doubts for me."
"Why so, general?"
"Because I, too, have had some confidences."
"Voluntary or involuntary?"
"Who knows, with these people?"
"Pooh! But what did they tell you?"
"They told me nothing."
"Well, what then?"
"Then, after you left me I went on bargaining for oats."
"Yes. What next?"
"Next, the peasant who spoke to me asked for
earnest-money; that was fair. I asked him for a receipt; that was
fair, too. He wanted to go to a shop and write it. 'No,' I said.
'Here's a pencil; haven't you a scrap of paper about you? My hat will
do for a table.' He tore off the back of a letter and gave me a
receipt. There it is. Read it."