JACQUES DAUBAN, in his pleasure at escaping from Antoine's very angry threats, hurried forward to the house with Lucette, unsuspiciously, and said little beyond a word or two of rebuke for her disclosure of their mutual plan.

"You should not have said anything. It may increase the difficulty of getting rid of him."

"But I would not have him think he could use me as a decoy."

"It would have been safer to have told him afterwards."

"Safer? You do not mean you are afraid of him, Jacques," and look and tone and gesture were alike eloquent of indignant repudiation of the thought.

"Afraid of him? Indeed, no," he replied stoutly, but with a timorous glance over his shoulder.

"If you were a coward, oh——" and her disgust was intense.

"I am no coward, but prudence is always valuable," and in this way she plagued him till they reached the house, and as they entered the door they were met by Pascal.

Lucette gave a little cry of pretended alarm, and Dauban changed colour in alarm that was very far from pretence.

"Ah, you recognize me, I see," said Pascal, with an ominous smile.