thus?

What price did he expect for this sacrifice of time and labor?

His anxiety made him say nervously:

"It is unjust to us both, monsieur, for you to preserve your incognito
any longer. When you have saved the honor and life of a man, you should
at least let him know whom he is to thank for it."

"Oh!" said M. Verduret smilingly, "you are not out of the woods yet. You
are not married either: so you must wait a little longer; patience and
faith."

The clock struck six.

"Good heavens!" exclaimed M. Verduret. "Can it be six o'clock? I did
hope to have a good night's rest, but I must keep on moving. This is no
time to be asleep."

He went into the passage, and, leaning over the balusters, called, "Mme.
Alexandre! I say, Mme. Alexandre!"

The hostess of the Archangel, the portly wife of Fanferlot the Squirrel,
evidently had not been to bed. This fact struck Prosper.

She appeared, obsequious, smiling, and eager to please.

"What can I do for you, gentlemen?" she inquired.

"You can send your--Joseph Dubois and Palmyre to me as soon as possible.
Let me know when they arrive. I will rest a few minutes, and you can
awake me when they come."

As soon as Mme. Alexandre left the room, the fat man unceremoniously
threw himself on the bed.

"You have no objections, I suppose?" he said to Prosper.

In five minutes he was fast asleep; and Prosper sat by the bed watching
him with a perplexed gaze, wondering who this strange man could be.

About nine o'clock someone tapped timidly at the door.

Slight as the noise was, it aroused M. Verduret, who sprang up, and
called out:

"Who is it?"

Prosper arose and opened the door.

Joseph Dubois, the valet of the Marquis of Clameran, entered.

This important assistant of M. Verduret was breathless from fast
running; and his little rat eyes were more restless than ever.

"Well, patron, I am glad to see you once more," he cried. "Now you can
tell me what to do; I have been perfectly lost during your absence, and
have felt like a jumping monkey with a broken string.

"What! did you get frightened too?"

"Bless me! I think I had cause for alarm when I could not find you
anywhere. Yesterday afternoon I sent you three despatches, to the
addresses you gave me, Lyons, Beaucaire, and Oloron, but received no
answer. I was almost crazy with anxiety when your message reached me
just now."

"Things are getting hot, then."

"Hot! They are burning! The place is too warm