CHAPTER III.
THE EXAMINATION.
The process of examination consisted in comparing the half card with another half in the possession of the officer.
The Gascon with the bare head advanced first.
"Your name ?" said De Loignac.
"It is on the card." "Never mind; tell it to me." "Well, I am called Perducas de Pincornay." Then, throwing his eyes on the card.

M.de Loignac read.

"Perducas de Pincornay, 26 October, 1585, at noon precisely.

Porte St.Antoine." "Very good; it is all right," said he, "enter.

Now for you," said he to the second.
The man with the cuirass advanced.
"Your card ?" said De Loignac.
"What! M.de Loignac, do you not know the son of your old friend, whom you have danced twenty times on your knee ?"--"No." "I am Pertinax de Montcrabeau," replied the young man, with astonishment.