"You are over careful," was the answer.

"I have my head to consider," Bruslart laughed. "No man pays the doctor
before he has taken his physic."

The doctor laughed too, it was the only way to deal with such a man, and
departed. Bruslart could not escape him. The money was already as good
as in his hands. Bruslart once out of Paris, Legrand could answer any
question the officers of the Convention might put to him. He had done as
Citizen Bruslart had commanded him, what else could he have done?
Monsieur Fouquier-Tinville and others could not say much, they were too
interested in his establishment. Besides, although mademoiselle had
escaped from his house, it was most unlikely that she could leave Paris.
She would be found.

Bruslart locked his door when the doctor had gone. Before the doctor he
had shown no anger, no agitation, but alone, he was like an animal
caught in a trap. For this money he had schemed, lied, and betrayed an
innocent woman; he had just enough conscience to hate the remembrance of
all he had done, and now half the reward of his treachery was to be
filched from him. For a moment he was tempted to go before Legrand
returned, but he was afraid. Legrand had the whip hand of him. Could he
cheat him? The opportunity might come at the last moment. How could it
be done?

He was deep in a dozen plans which came in a chaotic confusion into his
mind, when there was a knock at the door, two low, single knocks
followed a double one, Legrand's signal. An hour had not passed. Legrand
had returned quickly. What had happened? He opened the door, then
started back.

"Pauline!"

For a moment she stood on the threshold apparently with some feeling for
the dramatic effect in her attitude, then she entered and closed the
door.

"Yes, Pauline," she said.

Bruslart had been taken unawares; he had unfortunately allowed the woman
to see his surprise, and cursed his folly as he regained his equanimity
with an effort.

"You are welcome, Pauline, as welcome as--"

"As the devil," she answered. "No, I want to do the talking. You sit
down and listen."

"Nothing will please me better," Bruslart returned, smiling. "I have
been forced to go into hiding, and have lost touch with events."

"And I have been in prison."

"In prison! You!"

"Strange, isn't it? I dare say the story will interest you, but there
are other things to talk of first. What has forced you into hiding?"

"Circumstances and Raymond Latour," he