"Now, let me do it," he said. "It is a great favor I ask; it is too good a means, and too good a time to obtain a rendezvous."
All the rest, who thought the young girl was joking, cried: "We protest! He shall not climb up."
But the Marquise, disturbed, repeated: "And yet some one must go and see."
The Prince exclaimed with a dramatic gesture:
"She favors the Duke, we are betrayed."
"Let us toss a coin to see who shall go up," said the Chevalier. He took a five-franc piece from his pocket, and began with the Prince.
"Tail," said he. It was head.
The Prince tossed the coin in his turn saying to Saval: "Call, Monsieur."
Saval called "Head." It was tail.
The Prince then gave all the others a chance, and they all lost.