he
had fabricated in his pocket, hid the mutilated report in the bottom of
a desk drawer under a pile of memorandum books; then, after giving his
agitation time to subside, he left the house, lingering a moment to chat
with those on guard at the door, and remarking as he left them:

"I have not time to wait just now; I will call again."

But as soon as he had gained the street he quickened his pace, as if
fearing pursuit. On reaching home he hastened to the cellar and,
addressing Coursegol who had not once quitted his post, he said:

"Here is what you desired. Go!"

Coursegol took the paper without a word, scrutinized it closely to
convince himself that the signature was genuine: then satisfied with his
examination he replied:

"I am going with the hope that I shall be able to save Dolores and
Philip; but do not consider yourself forgiven for the injury you have
done them. Remember this; if my efforts fail and any harm befalls them
it is on you that my vengeance will fall."

He rose to go; then changing his mind, he added:

"For six months we have worked together, and as I shall probably need a
good deal of money to carry this undertaking to a successful
termination, I wish you to give me my share of the profits."

"Make your own estimate," replied Vauquelas, who was too thoroughly
frightened to haggle as to terms.

"Give me fifty thousand francs; half in gold, half in assignats."

Vauquelas breathed a sigh of relief. He had feared that Coursegol would
demand an amount ten times as large. He counted out fifty thousand
francs. Coursegol put the assignats in his pocket, and secreted the
gold in a leather belt he wore; then without another word, he started in
quest of Philip and Dolores.

How could he reach them? He must first discover where they were. Prisons
were very numerous in those days. There were the Luxembourg, the Abbaye,
the Force, the Carmes, the Madelonnettes, Saint-Lazare and many others.
In which of them were Philip and Dolores immured? Had they been sent to
the same prison or had they been separated? Vauquelas had been unable to
furnish any information on this subject, and Coursegol could only
conjecture. He repaired immediately to the house of the Bridouls, where
he made arrangements to remain for a time. He apprised these tried
friends of the events that had occurred since the evening before.
Cornelia could not restrain her tears when she heard that her young
friend was in prison. As for Bri