The Secret NoteFor I saw everything that I am telling you; and if I may have beendeceived when I saw it, I am most certainly not deceiving you intelling you of it.

　　From a Letter to the AuthorThe Marquis sent for him; M. de La Mole seemed rejuvenated, therewas a gleam in his eye.

　　'Let us hear a little about your memory,' he said to Julien. 'I am told itis prodigious! Could you learn four pages by heart and go and repeatthem in London? But without altering a word!'

　　The Marquis was feverishly turning the pages of that morning's Quotidienne, and seeking in vain to dissimulate a highly serious air, which Julien had never seen him display, not even when they were discussing theFrilair case.

　　Julien had by this time sufficient experience to feel that he ought to appear thoroughly deceived by the light manner that was being assumedfor his benefit.

　　'This number of the Quotidienne is perhaps not very amusing; but, if M.

　　le Marquis will allow me, tomorrow morning I shall have the honour torecite it to him from beginning to end.'

　　'What! Even the advertisements?'

　　'Literally, and without missing a word.'

　　'Do you give me your word for that?' went on the Marquis with a sudden gravity.

　　'Yes, Sir, only the fear of not keeping it might upset my memory.'

　　'What I mean is that I forgot to ask you this question yesterday; I donot ask you on your oath never to repeat what you are about to hear; Iknow you too well to insult you in that way. I have answered for you, I am going to take you to a room where there will be twelve persons assembled; you will take note of what each of them says.

　　'Do not be uneasy, it is not going to be a confused conversation, eachone will speak in his turn, I do not mean a set speech,' the Marquis wenton, resuming the tone of careless superiority which came so naturally tohim. 'While we are talking, you will write down twenty pages or so; youwill return here with me, we shall cut down those twenty pages to four.

　　It is those four pages that you shall recite to me tomorrow morning instead of the whole number of the Quotidienne. You will then set off atonce; you will have to take post like a young man who is travelling forhis pleasure. Your object will be to pass unobserved by anyone. You willarrive in the presence of a great personage. There, you will require moreskill. It will be a question of taking in everyone round him; for among hissecretaries, among his servants, there are men in the pay of our enemies,who lie in wait for our agents to intercept them. You shall have a formalletter of introduction. When His Excellency looks at you, you will takeout my watch here, which I am going to lend you for the journey. Take itnow, while you are about it, and give me yours.

　　'The Duke himself will condescend to copy out at your dictation thefour pages which you will have learned by heart.

　　'When this has been done, but not before, remember, you may, if HisExcellency questions you, give him an account of the meeting which youare now about to attend.

　　'One thing that will prevent you from feeling bored on your jorney isthat between Paris and the residence of the Minister there are peoplewho would ask for nothing better than to fire a shot at M. l'abbe Sorel.

　　Then his mission is at an end and I foresee a long delay; for, my dear fellow, how shall we hear of your death? Your zeal cannot go so far as toinform us of it.

　　'Run off at once and buy yourself a complete outfit,' the Marquis wenton with a serious air. 'Dress in the style of the year before last. This evening you will have to look a little shabby. On the journey, however, youwill dress as usual. Does that surprise you, does your suspicious mindguess the reason? Yes, my friend, one of the venerable personages whomyou are about to hear discuss is fully capable of transmitting informationby means of which someone may quite possibly administer opium toyou, if nothing worse, in the evening, in some respectable inn at whichyou will have called for supper.'

　　 'It would be better,' said Julien, 'to travel thirty leagues farther andavoid the direct route. My destination is Rome, I suppose … '

　　The Marquis assumed an air of haughty displeasure which Julien hadnot seen to so marked a degree since Bray-le-Haut.

　　'That is what you shall learn, Sir, when I think fit to tell you. I do notlike questions.'

　　'It was not a question,' replied Julien effusively: 'I swear to you, Sir, Iwas thinking aloud, I was seeking in my own mind the safest route.'

　　'Yes, it seems that your thoughts were far away. Never forget that anambassador, one of your youth especially, ought not to appear to be forcing confidences.'

　　Julien was greatly mortified, he was in the wrong. His self-esteemsought for an excuse and could find none.

　　'Understand then,' M. de La Mole went on, 'that people always appealto their hearts when they have done something foolish.'

　　An hour later, Julien was in the Marquis's waiting-room in the garb ofan inferior, with old-fashioned clothes, a doubtfully clean neckcloth andsomething distinctly smug about his whole appearance.

　　At the sight of him, ............