his, and accounted for Catenac's
change of front by the threats of Mascarin.

"Well, what do you draw from this?" asked he.

"That Catenac has no more information than I have. The Duke most likely
proposes to drop the affair; but, were I in his place, I should be
afraid to find the boy, however much I might at one time have desired
to do so. He may be in prison--the most likely thing for a lad who, at
twelve years of age, ran away from a place where he was well treated. I
have, however, planned a mode of operation, for, with patience, money,
and skill, much might be done."

"I agree with you."

"Then let me tell you. I have drawn an imaginary circle round Paris. I
said to myself, 'I will visit every house and inn in the villages round
within this radius; I will enter every isolated dwelling, and will say
to the inhabitants, "Do any of you remember at any time sheltering and
feeding a child, dressed in such and such a manner?"' giving at the
same time a description of him. I am sure that I should find some one
who would answer in the affirmative. Then I should gain a clue which I
would follow up to the end."

This plan appeared so ingenious to Tantaine, that he involuntarily
exclaimed,--

"Good! excellent!"

Perpignan hardly knew whether Tantaine was praising or blaming him. His
manner might have meant either.

"You are very fast," returned he dismally. "Perhaps presently you will
be good enough to allow that I am not an absolute fool. Do you really
think that I am an idiot? At any rate, I sometimes hit upon a judicious
combination. For example, with regard to this boy, I have a notion
which, if properly worked might lead to something."

"Might I ask what it is?"

"I speak confidentially. If it is impossible to lay our hands upon the
real boy, why should we not substitute another?"

At this suggestion, Tantaine started violently.

"It would be most dangerous, most hazardous," gasped he.

"You are afraid, then?" said Perpignan, delighted at the effect his
proposal had made.

"It seems it is you who were afraid," retorted Tantaine.

"You do not know me when you say that," said Perpignan.

"If you were not afraid," asked Tantaine, in his most oily voice, "why
did you not carry out your plan?"

"Because there was one obstacle that could not be got over."

"Well, I can't see it myself," returned Tantaine, desirous of hearing
every detail.

"Ah, there is one thing that I omitted in my narrative. The Du