Monsieur de Gemosac turned, and looked at his companion with a sort
of surprise.

"You speak as if in doubt, Monsieur Colville," he said, with a
sudden assumption of that grand manner with which his father had
faced the people on the Place de la Revolution--had taken a pinch of
snuff in the shadow of the guillotine one sunny July day. "You
speak as if in doubt. Such a man was found. I have spoken with
him: I, who speak to you."



CHAPTER IV. THE MARQUIS'S CREED



Dormer Colville smiled doubtfully. He was too polite, it seemed, to
be sceptical, and by his attitude expressed a readiness to be
convinced as much from indifference as by reasoning.

"It is intolerable," said the Marquis de Gemosac, "that a man of
your understanding should be misled by a few romantic writers in the
pay of the Orleans."

"I am not misled, Marquis; I am ignorant," laughed Colville. "It is
not always the same thing."

Monsieur de Gemosac threw away his cigarette and turned eagerly
toward his companion.