had courage and energy to fight it through. Depend upon it, some powerful person is behind Yvard. Most likely Madame du Maine. What say you to an adventure?"
My blood was in the humour for sport, the wine heated me somewhat, and recking not of consequences I caught at his idea.
"Willingly, comrade, but what?"
"Let us to Sceaux, to Madame's court, and see what we may discover, for two fools like ourselves might perchance stumble blindly upon what a wise man would overlook," he continued with mock humility.
"Yes, and two fools like ourselves might perchance get themselves hanged for what a wise man would keep his skirts clear of. There's a peril in meddling with the affairs of the great."
"Seriously, now. I have means and ways of learning things in Madame's family. My head has been fast set on this matter for some time. If you agree to take the risk with me, you should know how we are to act. Now mind you," he pursued, rising and stretching his back to the fire, facing me, "mind you, I tell you all I want you to know, and you must promise me to make no inquiries on your own account."
By this time I had grown accustomed to trust de Greville, so I simply assented.
"A lady you know—it might get me into trouble," he further explained; with that I made myself content.
Jerome averted his face as if he would first frame his speech carefully before he gave it me. Here de Se-
