reading his way through the tables towards them was
alarming enough in his appearance and expression to have cowed braver
men.

"Jean le Roi--he fears nothing--he cares for nothing, not even for me,
his father," Johnson muttered with chattering teeth. "If he feels like
it he will kill us as we sit here."

Hurd, who was facing the man, watched him with fascinated eyes. He was
over six feet high, and magnificently formed. Notwithstanding his ready
made clothes, fresh from a French tailor, his brown hat ludicrously too
small and the blue stubble of a recently cropped beard, he was almost as
impressively handsome as he was repulsive to look at. He walked with the
grace of a savage animal in his native woods; there was something indeed
not altogether human in the gleam of his white teeth and stealthy,
faultless movements. He came straight to where they sat, and his hand
fell like a vice upon the shoulder of the shrinking elder man. It was
further characteristic of this strange being that when he spoke there
was no anger in his tone. His voice indeed was scarcely raised above a
whisper.

"What are you doing here, old man?" he asked. "Why did you not meet me?
Eh?"

"I will tell you, tell you everything, Jean," Johnson answered. "Sit
down here and drink with us. Everything shall be made quite clear to
you. I came for your sake--to get money, Jean. Sit down, my boy."

Jean le Roi sat down.

"I sit with you," he said, "and I will drink with you, because I have no
money to pay for myself. But we are not friends yet, old man! I will
hear first what you have done. And who is this?"

His eyes flashed as he looked upon Hurd. Johnson interposed quickly.

"A friend, a good friend," he exclaimed. "He will be of service to us,
great service. Only a few minutes ago he told me something astounding,
something for you also to hear, dear Jean. It is wonderful news."

Jean le Roi interrupted.

"What I want to hear from you," he said, in a soft, vicious whisper, "is
why, when they let me out of that cursed place, you were not there with
money and clothes for me, as I ordered. But for the poor faithful
Annette, whom I did not desire to see, I might have starved on the day
of my release. Stop!----" he held up his hand as Johnson was on the
point of pouring out a copious explanation, "order me brandy first. Tell
them to bring me the bottle. Do not speak till I have drunk."

They called a waiter and gave the order. They waited in an une