Yes. I have means of knowing that such a letter could not be forged."

"You shall have the letter to-morrow morning. Where shall I send it?"

"I will come here for it," Seth answered.

"An excellent idea. You will be able to tell me at once whether you are
satisfied," said Latour, rising and going to the door, which he threw
open with a bow. "The lion's den is not so dangerous a place as you
imagined."

"Monsieur, I shall think well of you until to-morrow," said Seth.

"And afterward, I hope," Latour returned.

The smile faded from Latour's face as he went back into his room, and
an expression of perplexity took its place. This was a new and
unexpected danger. Probably he was honest, but it was hardly likely that
Barrington had told the whole truth to his servant. After a little while
spent in thought and calculation, Latour went upstairs to the rooms
above his own. He knocked at the door, then turned the key and entered.

Pauline Vaison showed no pleasure at the visit, but there was
unmistakable relief. It was quite evident that she half expected a worse
enemy.

"Have you come to release me, citizen?" she asked, doing her utmost to
appear indifferent.

"You are only a prisoner for your own safety."

"You have already said so, but I cannot understand of what importance I
am to the State."

"Mademoiselle, I was a little rough with you when you were first brought
here," said Latour. "I believed you were a party to a plot, to defeat
which you were smuggled out of the Abbaye Prison. You told me a story
which, frankly, I did not believe, but from further knowledge I am
inclined to alter my opinion. Your story was this, correct me if I am
wrong in any detail: You went one morning to visit Citizen Bruslart, he
was out and you waited for him, you have done the same before. The house
was suddenly invaded and you were arrested as an aristocrat, one
Mademoiselle Jeanne St. Clair. You protested, but you were not believed.
Is that so?"

"I was laughed at and insulted," said Pauline.

"Citizen Bruslart is a friend of yours?"

"Yes."

"Have you ever heard that he was to marry Jeanne St. Clair?"

"Whatever he once intended, I have the best reason for knowing that he
has changed his mind. Lucien Bruslart is to marry me."

Latour showed no surprise. "Have you ever seen this Jeanne St. Clair?"
he asked.

"Never."

"You were not voluntarily there that day in her place, so that she might
escape?"

"No. I am a patr