and the men told off to take him were afraid of blundering.

"The Chevalier de Beauvoir--I now remember his name--had studied his
part well; he appealed to the family whose name he had borrowed,
persisted in his false address, and stood his examination so boldly
that he would have been set at large but for the blind belief that the
spies had in their instructions, which were unfortunately only too
minute. In this dilemma the authorities were more ready to risk an
arbitrary act than to let a man escape to whose capture the Minister
attached great importance. In those days of liberty the agents of the
powers in authority cared little enough for what we now regard as
_legal_. The Chevalier was therefore imprisoned provisionally, until
the superior officials should come to some decision as to his
identity. He had not long to wait for it; orders were given to guard
the prisoner closely in spite of his denials.

"The Chevalier de Beauvoir was next transferred, in obedience to
further orders, to the Castle of l'Escarpe, a name which sufficiently
indicates its situation. This fortress, perched on very high rocks,
has precipices for its trenches; it is reached on all sides by steep
and dangerous paths; and, like every ancient castle, its principal
gate has a drawbridge over a wide moat. The commandant of this prison,
delighted to have charge of a man of family whose manners were most
agreeable, who expressed himself well, and seemed highly educated,
received the Chevalier as a godsend; he offered him the freedom of the
place on parole, that they might together the better defy its dulness.
The prisoner was more than content.

"Beauvoir was a loyal gentleman, but, unfortunately, he was also a
very handsome youth. He had attractive features, a dashing air, a