Aldegonde, however, had gone to fetch the guard; but before she returned they had had time to light a fire with the first numbers, and were throwing them in, one after another, as quickly as possible, when the guard appeared, followed by a crowd of ragged1 men, women, and boys.
Happily, Philippe and Charny knew Reteau’s secret exit, so when they caught sight of the guard they made their escape through it, carrying the key with them.
Then Reteau began crying “Murder!” while Aldegonde, seeing the flames through the window, cried “Fire!”
The soldiers arrived, but finding the young men gone, and the house not on fire, went away again, leaving Reteau to bathe his bruises2. But the crowd lingered about all day, hoping to see a renewal3 of the fun.
When Taverney and Charny found themselves in the Rue4 Vieux Augustins, “Monsieur,” said Charny, “now we have finished that business, can I be of any use to you?”
“Thanks, sir, I was about to ask you the same question.”
“Thank you, but I have private business which will probably keep me in Paris all day.”
“Permit me, then, to take leave of you; I am happy to have met you.”
“And I you, sir;” and the two young men bowed, but it was easy to see that all this courtesy went no further than the lips.
Philippe went towards the boulevards, while Charny turned to the river; each turned two or three times till he thought himself quite out of sight, but after walking for some time Charny entered the Rue Neuve St. Gilles, and there once more found himself face to face with Philippe.
Each had again the same idea of demanding satisfaction from the Count de Cagliostro. They could not now doubt each other’s intentions, so Philippe said:
“I left you the seller, leave me the buyer; I left you the cane5, leave me the sword.”
“Sir,” replied Charny, “you left it to me simply because I came first, and for no other reason.”
“Well,” replied Taverney, “here we arrive both together, and I will make no concession6.”
“I did not ask you for any, sir; only I will defend my right.”
“And that, according to you, M. de Charny, is to make M. de Cagliostro burn his thousand copies.”
“Remember, sir, that it was my idea to burn the others.”
“Then I will have these torn.”
“Monsieur, I am sorry to tell you that I wish to have the first turn with M. de Cagliostro.”
“All that I can agree to, sir, is to take our chance. I will throw up a louis, and whoever guesses right shall be first.”
“Thanks, sir, but I am not generally lucky, and should probably lose,” and he stepped towards the door.
Charny stopped him.
“Stay, sir, we will soon understand each other.”
“Well, sir?” answered Philippe, turning back.
“Then, before asking satisfaction of M. de Cagliostro, suppose we take a turn in the Bois de Boulogne: it will be out of our way, but perhaps we can settle our dispute there. One of us will probably be left behind, and the other be uninterrupted.”
“Really, monsieur,” said Philippe, “you echo my own thoughts—where shall we meet?”
“Well, if my society be not insupportable to you, we need not part. I ordered my carriage to wait for me in the Place Royale, close by here.”
“Then you will give me a seat?” said Philippe.
“With the greatest pleasure;” and they walked together to the carriage, and getting in, set off for the Champs Elysées.
First, however, Charny wrote a few words on his tablets, and gave them to the footman to take to his hotel.
In less than half an hour they reached the Bois de Boulogne. The weather was lovely, and the air delightful7, although the power of the sun was already felt: the fresh leaves were appearing on the trees, and the violets filled the place with their perfume.
“It is a fine day for our promenade8, is it not, M. de Taverney?” said Charny.
“Beautiful, sir.”
“You may go,” said Charny to his coachman.
“Are you not wrong, sir, to send away your carriage?—one of us may need it.”
“No, sir,” replied Charny; “in this affair secrecy9 before everything, and once in the knowledge of a servant, we risk it being talked of all over Paris to-morrow.”
“As you please, but do you think the fellow does not know what he came here for? These people know well what brings two gentlemen to the Bois de Boulogne, and even if he did not feel sure now, he will perhaps afterwards see one of us wounded, and will have no doubts left then. Is it not then better to keep him here to take back either who shall need him, than to be left, or leave me here, wounded and alone?”
“You are right, monsieur,” replied Charny; and, turning to the coachman, he said, “No, stop, Dauphin; you shall wait here.”
Dauphin remained accordingly, and as he perfectly10 guessed what was coming, he arranged his position, so as to see through the still leafless trees all ............