lay, and had fully determined
to bring matters to a crisis himself, when one morning, about three
o'clock, he was aroused by Raoul.

He knew that some event of great importance must have happened, to make
his nephew come to his house at this hour of the morning.

"What is the matter?" he anxiously inquired.

"Perhaps nothing; perhaps everything. I have just left Prosper."

"Well?"

"I had him, Mme. Gypsy, and three other friends to dine with me. After
dinner, I made up a game of baccarat, but Prosper took no interest in
it, although he was quite tipsy."

"You must be drunk yourself to come here waking me up in the middle
of the night, to hear this idle gabble," said Louis angrily. "What the
devil do you mean by it?"

"Now, don't be in a hurry; wait until you hear the rest."

"Morbleu! speak, then!"

"After the game was over, we went to supper; Prosper became intoxicated,
and betrayed the secret name with which he closes the money-safe."

At these words Clameran uttered a cry of triumph.

"What was the word?"

"The name of his friend."

"Gypsy! Yes, that would be five letters."

Louis was so excited that he jumped out of bed, slipped on his
dressing-gown, and began to stride up and down the chamber.

"Now we have got him!" he said with vindictive satisfaction. "There's no
chance of escape for him now! Ah, the virtuous cashier won't touch the
money confided to him: so we must touch it for him. The disgrace will be
just as great, no matter who opens the safe. We have the word; you know
where the key is kept."

"Yes; when M. Fauvel goes out he always leaves the key in the drawer of
his secretary, in his chamber."

"Very good. Go and get this key from Mme. Fauvel. If she does not give
it up willingly, use force: so that you get it, that is the point; then
open the safe, and take out every franc it contains. Ah, Master Bertomy,
you shall pay dear for being loved by the woman whom I love!"

For five minutes Clameran indulged in such a tirade of abuse against
Prosper, mingled with rhapsodies of love for Madeleine, that Raoul
thought him almost out of his mind.

"Before crying victory," he said, "you had better consider the drawbacks
and difficulties. Prosper might change the word to-morrow."

"Yes, he might; but it is not probable he will; he will forget what he
said while drunk; besides, we can hasten matters."

"That is not all. M. Fauvel has given orders that no large sum shall be
kept in the safe