Their coming would free us, indeed, but
at the cost of ridicule and laughter. Never was man worse
placed.
Wincing at the thought, I bade Maignan be silent; and, drumming
on the door myself, I called for the landlord. Someone who had
been giving directions in a tone of great, consequence ceased
speaking, and came close to the door. After listening a moment,
he struck it with his hand.
"Silence, rogues!" he cried. "Do you hear? Silence there,
unless you want your ears nailed to the post."
"Fool!" I answered. "Open the door instantly! Are you all mad
here, that you shut up the King's servants in this way?"
"The King's servants!" be cried, jeering at us. "Where are
they?"
"Here!" I answered, swallowing my rage as well as I might. "I
am M. Gringuet's deputy, and if you do not this instant--"
"M. Gringuet's deputy! Ho! ho!" he said. "Why, you fool, M.
Gringuet's deputy arrived two hours before you. You must get up
a little earlier another time. They are poor tricksters who are
too late for the fair.
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