Cropole advanced, cap in hand, rather bent than bowing,

A gesture of the unknown interrogated him, without a word
being pronounced.

"Monsieur," said Cropole, "I come to ask how -- what ought I
to say: your lordship, monsieur le comte, or monsieur le
marquis?"

"Say monsieur, and speak quickly," replied the unknown, with
that haughty accent which admits of neither discussion nor
reply.

"I came, then, to inquire how monsieur had passed the night,
and if monsieur intended to keep this apartment?"

"Yes."

"Monsieur, something has happened upon which we could not
reckon."

"What?"

"His majesty Louis XIV. will enter our city to-day and will
remain here one day, perhaps two."

Great astonishment was painted on the countenance of the
unknown.

"The King of France coming to Blois?"