eat; twice
he jumped up and walked to the window; indeed, but for my exertions,
the breakfast would have been removed untasted. As it chanced, my
appetite remained good, and, in view of the possible journey, I ate for
both.

Only once during the day did Pillot leave the room, and then his place
was taken by Pierre, who, in less than three minutes, was deep in his
usual game of throwing the dice, left hand against right. To do the
villain justice, however, he did not neglect his duty. His eyes were
upon me frequently, while at the slightest stir, he turned quick as
lightning, one hand grasping his ponderous club.

Toward the middle of the afternoon Pillot returned, and kept me company
for the remainder of the day. He was deeply excited, and as the
evening approached began to bubble over. He would break off in the
middle of a sentence, and, running to the window, listen intently,
holding up his hand meanwhile for silence. Francois, too, who came in
once or twice, seemed equally agitated, but Pierre, I have no doubt,
was calmly playing, interested chiefly in the result of his game.
Perhaps he did not understand why the others were so anxious, or why
they spoke to each other in low whispers!

As for me, I soon became as deeply interested as Pillot. Why did he
listen at the window? Did he expect to hear some pre-arranged signal,
or the rattle of the carriage which was to bear me away?

Once I nearly tricked him into betraying the secret. He had dispatched
Francois on some errand, and was pacing the room restlessly, when I
said at a venture, and in a careless tone, "So the grand coup is to be
made to-night?"

"This very evening, monsieur!" and he rubbed his hands briskly.

"It will cause an immense sensation?"

"A sensation? _Corbleu!_ There will be----" He checked himself,
looked at me slily, and finished by saying, "Ah, yes, monsieur, perhaps
so." Then he returned to the window to listen; so my attempt to catch
him by surprise had failed.

Another hour passed, Francois had returned, and the two stood talking
rapidly but in such low tones that I could not catch a word. To judge
by their gestures, Francois was the bearer of fresh news, but whether
good or evil I could not determine. It was, however, evidently of
considerable significance, and such as to astonish the dwarf.

This secrecy and show of excitement played on my nerves. I became
restless and irritable, and chafed more and more at my confi