answered.

"And why should you keep your hiding-place a secret from me?"

"I will explain. It is rather a long story, and--"

"And I do not want to hear it," she said. "I know. It is not a pretty
story. To save one woman you sacrifice another, and in the end are false
to both."

"What nonsense have you been told, Pauline?"

"I have been told very little, perhaps only know part of the tale even
now, but it is sufficient. I only found out your hiding-place on
Wednesday night. On Thursday and Friday, Citizen Legrand was with you.
By your contriving Mademoiselle St. Clair was in hiding. A large part of
her money was in your hands, and she was in your way, so Legrand was
instructed to send word to the Convention that one Richard Barrington,
an American, had contrived by false representation to place her in
Legrand's house for safety, and the doctor, suddenly discovering the
falsehood, was to prove himself a good patriot and give her up. So
Lucien Bruslart, by paying the doctor, was to get rid of a troublesome
woman and retire to Belgium."

"I do not know who can have told you such a story."

"There are many spies in Paris," she answered with a short laugh. "But
that is not all the tale. Yesterday you were very confidential with
Citizen Legrand. You told him of another woman who was in love with you,
and was troublesome, or would be if she knew where to find you. You had
promised to marry her, a promise to the pretty fool which you did not
intend to keep. It amused you to think how furious Pauline Vaison would
be when she found out you had gone."

"So that devil Legrand has been talking, has he?"

"Poor Lucien! Do you imagine you are the only scoundrel in Paris?"

"Scoundrel! Why, you pretty fool--it is your own expression, so let me
use it--do you imagine I should tell the truth to Legrand? His own
cupidity ruins him. Half the tale is true, the other half--why, Pauline,
is it not the very scheme I told you of? I had hoped to rise to power in
Paris; that I cannot do, but I have the money, and Pauline Vaison will
join me across the Belgian frontier."

"You only have half the money, Lucien, Legrand is to have the other
half. It is his little fee."

"Now you have come we may cheat him," said Bruslart, quickly.

"Yes, a very excellent plan, but it won't work, my friend. I had none of
this story from Legrand. Your money holds him faithful. He will be back
in an hour, and in two hours you may perhaps be out of Paris