nement.
Whatever was about to happen, I wished it was over and done with.

The evening wore on, it became dusk, in an hour or two night would
fall; but still, as far as I was concerned, there was no change. The
two men maintained their position at the window; but they no longer
talked; it seemed as if they could only wait. The silence became
painful; there was not a sound in the half darkened room; I wondered if
my gaolers had forgotten how to breathe. I rustled the straw: they
turned swiftly, and Pillot shook his head as if to reprove the action,
but he did not speak.

Presently Francois said something in a low whisper to his companion,
and the dwarf in a sort of hoarse scream cried, "Be still. It must be
now, I tell you; it was all arranged this afternoon."

After this neither of them spoke, but both stood still and motionless,
till suddenly there came to our ears the sounds of hurrying footsteps
in the street. It was a relief to hear them, even if the runner had
nothing to do with me. They came nearer and nearer; the pace
slackened; finally some one stopped beneath the window. Evidently this
was the man for whom my captors watched. What news did he bring?
Pillot himself could not have waited more anxiously than I did to hear
the tidings. I felt sure that in some mysterious way my fate hinged on
the words of this unknown messenger.

Very quietly I raised my head from the straw and listened with strained
ears. No sound save the heavy breathing of its occupants broke the
stillness of the room. At last I seemed likely to hear something which
would afford a clue to the mystery; but here again I met with
disappointment. Only one word came from the man in the street, and I
was scarcely wiser than before.

"Failed!" he said, and immediately began to whistle the air of a
popular song, which probably conveyed some information to the dwarf.

Muttering savagely, Pillot ordered the messenger to bring the carriage
round, and, turning to me, said more calmly, "Monsieur, the plot has
miscarried, and you must leave Paris. I cannot explain further, but
you have no choice. Come with me quietly, or----" and he raised his
pistol.

My head began to swim again. The plot had failed! What plot? What
had I to do with it? Why should these people wish to carry me off?
Afterwards, when the truth came out, the affair seemed simple, so
simple, that I was ready to laugh at my own stupidity. I tried to
obtain some informa