"Bah! in time of peace; and I have got ten crowns instead of an old
cuirass."

"Ten crowns! Samuel, do you hear?" said Pertinax, looking for his
valet, but he was not to be seen.

"It seems to me that this man carries on a dangerous trade. But what
does he do with them?"

"Sells them again by weight."

"By weight! and you say he gave you ten crowns--for what?"

"A cuirass and a helmet."

"Why, even if they weighed twenty pounds, that is half-a-crown a pound.
This hides some mystery."

Voices rose, and the mirth grew loud with all, except Carmainges, who
still thought of the mysterious page. He sat by M. de Loignac, who said
to him:

"Here are a number of joyful people, and they do not know what for."

"Nor I, neither; but at least I am an exception."

"You are wrong, for you are one of those to whom Paris is a paradise."

"Do not laugh at me, M. de Loignac."