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 "I only called to ask, Monsieur," she said, "if you could tell me how to catch the diligence which goes out to Fontainebleau. I wish to go out to see his Holiness, who, as you know, is my relative, and as such, I desire his formal consent to my marriage to Cartouche."

Fifi was careful not to say that she was the Pope's relative; the Pope was her relative.

Duvernet, somewhat disconcerted by Fifi's superb air, replied that the diligence passed the corner, two streets below, at nine in the morning, and one in the afternoon.

"Thank you," responded Fifi. "I shall go out, to-morrow, at one o'clock. I could not think of getting up at the unearthly hour necessary to take the morning diligence. And can you tell me, Monsieur, about the omnibus that passes the Tuileries? The Emperor has had a request printed in the Moniteur, asking that the lady who made the gift of ninety thousand francs to the soldiers' orphans should declare herself—and I have no objection to going in the omnibus as far as the gates of the Tuileries. Then, I shall get a carriage."

Duvernet was so thunderstruck at Fifi's grandeur, that he mumbled something quite unintelligi