Malicorne, then, left Blois, as we have said, and went to find his friend, Manicamp, then in temporary retreat in the city of Orleans.

It was just at the moment when that young nobleman was employed in selling the last decent clothing he had left.

He had, a fortnight before, extorted from the Comte de Guiche a hundred pistoles, all he had, to assist in equipping him properly to go and meet Madame, on her arrival at Le Havre.

He had drawn from Malicorne, three days before, fifty pistoles, the price of the _brevet_ obtained for Montalais.

He had then no expectation of anything else, having exhausted all his resources, with the exception of selling a handsome suit of cloth and satin, embroidered and laced with gold, which had been the admiration of the court.