Page:Memoirs of Vidocq, Volume 2.djvu/50

 ; what is your hour?'—'Your's.'—'Five in the morning, behind the bishop's palace;—I will bring weapons.'

"Upon this, the blackguard retired; and Belle-Rose striking Fanfan on the stomach, heard some pieces chink in the waistcoat pocket, where he carried his money, the last relics of our former splendour. 'Really, my lad, I take an interest in you,' said he; 'you must come with me; our friend here must go with us:' and so saying, he gave me a poke, similar to that he had bestowed on Fanfan.

"M. Belle-Rose conducted us into the Rue de la Juiverie, to a wine-merchant's, where he made us enter. 'I will not enter with you,' said he to us; 'a man like me must preserve decorum: I am going to pull off my uniform, and will join you in a minute. Ask for a red seal and three glasses.' He left us. 'A red seal,' said he, turning round; 'mind the red seal.'

"We executed the orders of M. Belle-Rose, who was not long in returning, and whom we received cap-in-hand. 'Ah! my boys,' said he, 'put on your hats; no ceremonies between us; I am going to sit down: where is my glass? the first come, the first served. (He drank it down at a gulp.) I am devilish thirsty, and the dust sticks in my throat.'

"M. Belle-Rose poured out a second, whilst he spoke, and then wiping his forehead with a handkerchief, he leant his two elbows on the table, and assumed a mysterious air, which began to disquiet us.

"'Ah! my young friends, it is tomorrow that we are to have the brush. Do you know,' said he to Fanfan, 'that you have a devil to meet?—one of the best fencers in France: he pinked St George.' 'He pinked St George,' repeated Fanfan, looking most piteously at me. 'Ah! indeed, he pinked St George; but that is not all,—he has a most unlucky hand.' 'And so have I,' said Fanfan. 'What you, too?'—'By Jove, I think a day never passed, when I was at my master's, that I old not break something, if only a