The Merry Past 



man was seen to leave his hotel, wrapped up in a grey 

 riding-coat, and throw himself into a sorry fiacre. 

 This vehicle wended its way for about a league from 

 Paris to the country house of Madame Visconti, a 

 lady of notorious character. At one o'clock in the 

 morning two of the mouchards^ having previously 

 gained over a servant of the house, entered the lady's 

 bed-chamber ; and, as an apology for their rudeness, 

 stated that they were in quest of a forger of Billets de 

 Banque, whom they knew to be there concealed. In 

 the course of a careful search, the ecclesiastic was 

 drawn from under the bed, and was immediately 

 addressed by his title with a thousand excuses for 

 the impoliteness offered to a man of his rank. " Who- 

 ever you are," said he, with the utmost perturbation, 

 " you are in possession of my secret, and I will give 

 you ic(,ooo francs each, if you will promise not to 

 divulge it." " Secrecy, monsieur," said .the chief 

 searcher, " is the duty of our profession. We cannot 

 take your money, but we promise not to mention 

 what has occurred to any one but the Minister of the 

 Police, to whom we owe a faithful account." " I 

 will triple the sum, if you will promise not to divulge 

 it to any person." " That is impossible, monsieur. 

 We must give an account of our mission to our em- 

 ployer" ; and with this the spies disappeared. 



On their departure, the startled priest immediately 

 perceived the political trick which Fouche had so 

 adroitly played him, and realised that nothing 

 was left to him but to comply with what was de- 

 manded. He repaired early the next morning to the 



lO 



