ner of my
coming there.

"No, no, my lad," broke in Jerome's hearty reassurance, "not a bit,
just worn and starved out. Truly, boy, you had a rough adventure. By
'Od's blood, I'd hate to have the like! Has he taken any food Florine?"

"Nothing but the wine, and a sup or two of broth. Here is something
for him now," and she brought me a most tempting array of soup, hot
viands and victuals of which I feared to eat as I desired.

Though Florine and Jerome would not permit me to disturb myself with
vain conversation, yet by dint of questions and listening when they
talked apart, thinking I slept, I found how it all came about. It
seems Florine saw and recognized me when I returned to the gaming room,
having left Madame la Princesse. She knew too, in some way which I did
not learn, that neither Broussard nor I had left Bertrand's that night.
This, though the Provost's men had been searching the city for us both.
She kept her knowledge to herself. When the turbulence calmed down
somewhat and sentries were placed to guard the house, she occupied
herself in slipping about looking for my hiding place. It took but a
little while for her, familiar as she was with the house, to find the
room where Broussard and I had taken refuge. Listening at the door she
heard our angry voices and the scuffle within. This may have been when
I was choking him. Horrible! horrible!

At any rate she feared to intrude, and at once set out to seek help.
The girl throughout acted with astonishing promptness and judgment.
Florine had recognized Madame la Princesse--all Paris knew the
eccentric lady--so went straight to her. At first denied admission she
sent up a note couched in such terms as gained for her an immediate
private interview--indeed the Princess herself was careful it should be
strictly private.

Madame knew nothing of me except the request I made concerning Jerome,
and sending the papers to the Austrian Arms. Florine went without
delay to that place. This was about midday. Meanwhile Jerome, much
troubled that I did not appear during the night, pursued our original
plan of watching the house, and arranged his men at windows, and in the
street, in such a way as not to attract attention. One of them had
seen me working at the window but never dreamed it was I. Jerome found
the house already doubly guarded by the Provost's men, to his infinite
disgust. He was a handy chap though, and not to be outdone. Dressing
himself