bert. I
cannot bear it."

"I am not going to say any more. Madame de Millefleurs' horses must by
this time be half-frozen, and her coachman be out of all patience, and I
must be going. I shall come again as soon as I can, and I shall be very
angry if I don't find you looking much more like yourself when I next
come."

CHAPTER XVII.

The belief that in a few hours the siege would come to an end was so
general the next morning, that Cuthbert determined to lose no time in
seeing Cumming. As soon as the way was open the man might take the
opportunity to move off to some other hiding-place; and, therefore,
instead of bringing out his canvases, as he had intended, Cuthbert
decided to call on him at once. Having chartered one of the few
remaining fiacres, at an exorbitant rate, he drove to the house where
he had seen Cumming enter, and went into the concierge.

"I want some information, my friend," he said, laying a five-franc piece
on the table. "You have a foreigner lodging here?"

The man nodded.

"Monsieur Jackson is a good tenant," he said. "He pays well for any
little services."

"How long has he been here?"

"He came just after war was declared."

"Has he taken his apartments for a long period?"

"He has taken them for a year, monsieur. I think he will take them
permanently. I hope so, for he gives no trouble, and has never been out
late once since he came here."

"I want to see him," Cuthbert said, "I believe he is an old acquaintance
of mine."

"If you ring his bell he will open himself. He keeps an old woman as
servant, but she has just gone out to do his shopping. He always take
his meals at home. He is on the second floor--the door to the left."

Cuthbert went up and rang the bell. Cumming himself opened the door. He
looked at his visitor inquiringly.

"You do not remember me, Mr. Cumming?" Cuthbert said, cheerfully. "I am
not surprised, for I have but just recovered from a very serious wound.
I will come in and sit down, if you don't mind; I want to have a chat
with you. My name is Cuthbert Hartington!"

The man had given a violent start when his name was mentioned, and his
face turned to an ashy pallor. He hesitated for a moment, and then, as
Cuthbert entered, he closed the door behind him, and silently led the
way into the sitting-room.

"I happened to see you in the street," Cuthbert went on, pleasantly, as
he seated himself. "Of course, your beard has altered you a bit, and I
cou