"Are they doing that?
Are they strengthening it?
How know you ?" "I had it from the ostler at the Veau qui Tete that a certain Captain Fortunio--an Italian soldier of fortune who commands the men at Condillac--was at the Auberge de France last night, offering wine to whomsoever would drink with him, and paying for it out of Madame la Marquise's purse.

To such as accepted his hospitality he talked of the glory of a military career, particularly a free-lance's; and to those who showed interest in what he said he offered a pike in his company." "Enrolled he many, did you learn ?" "Not one, monsieur, the ostler told me; and it seems he spent the evening watching him weave his spider's web.

But the flies were over-wary.

They knew whence he came; they knew the business for which he desired to enrol them--for a rumour had gone round that Condillac was in rebellion against the Queen's commands--and there were none so desperate at the Auberge de France as to risk their necks by enlisting, no matter what the wage he offered." Garnache shrugged his shoulders.

"No matter," said he.