n broke out,--

"What do you mean?" said he; "and what do you want me to do?"

"Only a trifling service, as I told you before. My dear sir, do not put
yourself in a rage," he added, as Perpignan seemed disposed to speak
again. "Was it not you who first began to talk of your, 'em--well, let
us say business?"

"Then you wanted to make yourself agreeable by talking all this rot to
me. Well, shall I tell you in my turn what I think?"

"By all means, if it will not be giving you too much trouble."

"Then I tell you that you have come here on an errand which no man
should venture to do alone. You are not of the age and build for
business like this. It is a misfortune--a fatal one perhaps--to put
yourself in my power, in such a house as this."

"But, my dear sir, what is likely to happen to me?"

The features of the ex-cook were convulsed with fury; he was in that mad
state of rage in which a man has no control over himself. Mechanically
his hand slipped into his pocket; but before he could draw it out again,
Tantaine who had not lost one of his movements, sprang upon him and
grasped him so tightly by the throat that he was powerless to adopt any
offensive measures, in spite of his great strength and robust build.
The struggle was not a long one; the old man hurled his adversary to the
ground, and placed his foot on his chest, and held him down, his whole
face and figure seemingly transfigured with the glories of strength and
success.

"And so you wished to stab me,--to murder a poor and inoffensive old
man. Do you think that I was fool enough to enter your cut-throat door
without taking proper precautions?" And as he spoke he drew a revolver
from his bosom. "Throw away your knife," added he sternly.

In obedience to this mandate, Perpignan, who was now entirely
demoralized, threw the sharp-pointed weapon which he had contrived to
open in his pocket into a corner of the room.

"Good," said Tantaine. "You are growing more reasonable now. Of course I
came alone, but do you think that plenty of people did not know where I
was going to? Had I not returned to-night, do you think that my master,
M. Mascarin, would have been satisfied? and how long do you think it
would have been before he and the police would have been here. If you do
not do all that I wish for the rest of your life, you will be the most
ungrateful fellow in the world."

Perpignan was deeply mortified; he had been worsted in single combat,
and now he wa