"But what is the matter?" demanded little Edouard, struggling to escape
from his mother's encircling arms.

"Nothing, my little man," said one of the masked men in a gentle voice,
putting his head through the window of the coupe; "nothing but an
account we have to settle with the conductor, which does not in the
least concern you travellers. Tell your mother to accept our respectful
homage, and to pay no more heed to us than if we were not here." Then
passing to the door of the interior, he added: "Gentlemen, your servant.
Fear nothing for your money or jewels, and reassure that nurse--we have
not come here to turn her milk." Then to the conductor: "Now, then, Pere
Jerome, we have a hundred thousand francs on the imperial and in the
boxes, haven't we?"

"Gentlemen, I assure you--"

"That the money belongs to the government. It did belong to the bears of
Berne; seventy thousand francs in gold, the rest in silver. The silver
is on the top of the coach, the gold in the bottom of the coupe. Isn't
that so? You see how well informed we are."

At the words "bottom of the coupe" Madame de Montrevel gave another cry
of terror; she was about to come in contact with men who, in spite of
their politeness, inspired her with the most profound terror.

"But what is the matter, mother, what is the matter?" demanded the boy
impatiently.

"Be quiet, Edouard; be quiet!"

"Why must I be quiet?"

"Don't you understand?"

"No."

"The coach has been stopped."

"Why? Tell me why? Ah, mother, I understand."

"No, no," said Madame de Montrevel, "you don't understand."

"Those gentlemen are robbers."

"Take care you don't say so."

"What, you mean they are not robbers? Why, see they are taking the
conductor's money."

Sure enough, one of the four was fastening to the saddle of his horse
the bags of silver which the conductor threw down from the imperial.

"No," repeated Madame de Montrevel, "no, they are not robbers." Then
lowering her voice, she added: "They are Companions of Jehu."

"Ah!" cried the boy, "they are the ones who assassinated my friend, Sir
John."

And the child turned very pale, and his breath came hissing through his
clinched teeth.

At that moment one of the masked men opened the door of the coupe, and
said with exquisite politeness: "Madame la Comtesse, to our great regret
we are obliged to disturb you; but we want, or rather the conductor
wants, a package from the bottom of the coupe. Will you be so