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 ladder,—(that is what they think, if they would only admit it), and therefore praise be to the Lord! who has exalted the seats of the mighty!

The Lord of Maillebois spoke to his companion as if I were not within hearing. "Madame," said he, "we may as well fill up our time and have a little talk with this fellow; he seems rather stupid, but as he goes about from one tavern to another, playing on his flageolet, he probably knows what people hereabouts are thinking."

"Hush!"

"If indeed they can be said to think at all."

So they said to me:

"Well, my man, tell us what ideas prevail in the province?"

"Ideas?" said I, as if I had never heard the word before, looking slyly at our good Lord of Asnois, who laughed to himself under his big bushy beard, but let me go on.

"Ideas do not seem to grow plentifully in this part of the country," said Maillebois with his heavy playfulness, "but I mean I want to know what the people are thinking,—are they loyal to Church and King?"

"God is great, and so is His Majesty; we are devoted to both of them."

"And how about the Princes?"