hose precincts he had never
before intruded, as the servants all knew well enough? No, it was a
false alarm, no one was coming; and seeing that now or never was the
time for him to carry out his plan, he picked up the baby, folded the
quilted satin coverlet and the fine cambric sheet round it, and covered
its face with a lace handkerchief that lay on the pillow; then, feeling
that the swansdown quilt might not be warm enough on board the yacht, he
glanced round the room, and seeing an Indian shawl which Mathilde often
wore lying on a rocking-chair, he wrapped his burden entirely up in
this, and then dreading every moment the child should cry and betray
him, he stole out of the nursery to the spiral staircase. Here he paused
for a moment to listen, but all he heard was Marie's voice far off
entreating another servant to come and help her to look for the cane, as
Monsieur le Baron was waiting for it.

"Be quick, Marie, I can't wait much longer," shouted the baron, and
then, quick as thought, he dived down the spiral staircase, in his haste
nearly precipitating himself and his little daughter, who still slept
peacefully, to the bottom.

To let himself out at the side door was the work of a moment; and now,
unless surprised by any of the servants who might be loitering about in
the shrubberies with their lovers, he was safe. He had only to run down
a winding path of about two hundred yards across the grounds to the gate
where Leon was awaiting him. Once the baron started like a robber at a
rustling in the bushes as he passed, but it was only a cat, and once
again he breathed freely, and in less than five minutes from the time he
entered the nursery he stood on the road by the side of the dogcart.

"Is it you, Arnaut?" asked Leon, anxiously peering through the twilight
at his brother.

"Yes, yes, it is all right; here it is," said the baron, holding the
bundle up to Leon.

"How on earth am I to take it? Where is its head? Can't you nurse it
till we get to the yacht?" said Leon.

"No; how should I drive with this thing in my arms? Here, give me the
reins, and take hold. This is its head. Thank you," said the baron, with
an immense sigh of relief as he handed the baby to Leon.

Leon took the bundle so reluctantly, and handled it as delicately as if
it were a piece of priceless china he was afraid of breaking by a touch,
that the baron, who was not in the best of tempers, in spite of his
successful expedition, growled o