"Oh!" I said, "that being the state of things, my dear Louët, you are saved, and I will answer for everything."
"You will undertake the matter for me, then?"
"Upon my word, my dear sir, you will have done me an immense service."
"I will do it for you. Go and sleep soundly, without a care. And the day after to-morrow you will wake up with a salary of twelve hundred francs."
Louët went away with this pleasant prospect before him, and I wrote to the prince royal to ask him for an interview next morning. A quarter of an hour later, I received his assent. I was then lodging at No. 22 rue de Rivoli. My windows were exactly opposite those of the Duc d'Orléans and he often used to answer by a sign requests such as I had just addressed to him. Such demands on my part were seldom asked; I always waited until the prince sent for me, for I knew that the king, and particularly the queen, looked askance at my visits to their son. So, next day, when I presented myself to the prince, he said--
"Ah, here you are! Why the deuce are you in such a hurry to see me?"
"Ah, monseigneur, to ask a favour which I am sure you will grant me with great pleasure."
"I do not know, monseigneur, why you are so categorical with me; you know I am no purist."
"Never mind, it is a good thing to prove that, although prince royal, I have had a college education."
"Exactly, and it is of one of your college companions, monseigneur, I have come to speak."
"Is there a single one left, by any chance, without a berth?" he asked.
"Yes, monseigneur; I have discovered him."
"Oh! you! You are capable of discovering any mortal thing."
"Well, monseigneur, since I am the discoverer of the Mediterranean...!"
"Well, what more have you discovered now?"
"I have told you, one of your Royal Highness's college companions."
I drew the slip of paper from my pocket, ready for use at the first opportunity.
I looked at him with a smile and made a show of putting the paper back in my pocket.
"Then, monseigneur," I said, "that alters matters."
"I have nothing further to ask your Highness."
"Well, what is that slip of paper which you are putting back into your pocket and which you are dying to show me?"
"I am still very anxious to show it you, it is true, monseigneur."