Ten minutes afterwards she was at home. As she had not seen her husband since his liberation, she was ignorant of the change that had taken place in him with respect to the cardinal—a change which had since been strengthened by two or three visits from the Comte de Rochefort, who had become Bonacieux’s best friend, and who had persuaded him without great difficulty that nothing culpable had been intended by the carrying off of his wife, but that it was only a piece of political precaution.

She found Bonacieux alone.

Madame Bonacieux offered him her forehead to kiss.

“Let us talk a little,” said she.

“What!” said Bonacieux, astonished.

“Yes; I have something of great importance to tell you.”

“What! What brings you to me? Is it not the desire of seeing a husband again from whom you have been separated for a week?” asked the mercer, very much piqued.

“Yes, that first, and other things afterwards.”

“Speak, then.”

“You must set out immediately. I will give you a paper which you must not part with on any account, and which you will deliver into the proper hands.”

“And where am I to go?”

“London.”

“I go to London! You are joking. I have nothing to do in London.”

“But others require that you should go there.”

“But who are those others? I warn you that I will never again work in the dark, and that I will know not only to what I expose myself, but for whom I expose myself.”

“An illustrious person sends you, an illustrious person awaits you. The recompense will exceed your expectations; that is all I promise you.”

“More intrigues! nothing but intrigues! Thank you, madame; I am aware of them now. The cardinal has enlightened me on that head.”

“The cardinal?” cried Madame Bonacieux. “Have you seen the cardinal?”

“He sent for me,” answered the mercer proudly.

“He ill-treated you, then? He threatened you?”

“He gave me his hand, and he called me his friend—his friend! Do you hear that, madame? I am a friend of the great cardinal!”

“Of the great cardinal!”

“I am sorry for it, madame, but I acknowledge no other power than that of the great man whom I have the honour to serve.”