ThemarquiswentalonetoTroyesandtoldthewholemattertoLaurence。SheobtainedpermissionfromtheauthoritiestoseeMichu，andthemarquisaccompaniedhertothegatesoftheprison，wherehewaitedforher。Whenshecameoutherfacewasbathedintears。
\"Poorman！\"shesaid；\"hetriedtokneeltome，prayingthatIwouldnotthinkofhim，andforgettingtheshacklesthatwereonhisfeet！
Ah，marquis，I/will/pleadhiscause。Yes，I’llkissthebootoftheirEmperor。IfIfail——well，thememoryofthatmanshallliveeternallyhonoredinourfamily。Presenthispetitionformercysoastogaintime；meantimeIamresolvedtohavehisportrait。Come，letusgo。\"
Thenextday，whenTalleyrandwasinformedbyasignagreeduponthatLaurencewasatherpost，herangthebell；hisorderlycametohim，andreceivedorderstoadmitMonsieurCorentin。
\"Myfriend，youareaverycleverfellow，\"saidTalleyrand，\"andI