her since?"

"No; but I have never forgotten her, and I am convinced that if she is
living she has not forgotten her brother. Ah! when I think of all this,
I hate more than ever the oppressors of France, who have opened a road
to the throne over dead bodies!"

"But why are you troubled with these thoughts to-day?"

"I will tell you. My sister's name was Francine, but we called her
Cinette, and this evening a girl was carried away by violence from the
_Veau Saute_."

"And that Aube has such a good face!"

"Oh! he was not concerned in this villainy. The crime was committed by a
man who has more than once crossed our path--the Vicomte de Talizac!"

"Oh! what a family that is!" cried Gudel. "It was his lacquey, or his
father's, who denounced us to-night!"

"This is not all. The truth is, Gudel--you will probably think me
mad--but I am convinced that the girl who was carried off--the one
called Cinette--"

"You mean that you believe her to be your--"

"I can't reason," interrupted Fanfar. "It is the name of my little
sister, and the conviction is unalterable that this girl is my sister.
And now I can do nothing for her, and she in such deadly peril!" He
stopped short. "Gudel," he exclaimed, "you have never seen me shrink
from danger?"

"Not I."

"And yet, to-night I feel as weak as a child."

Tears came into the eyes of Fanfar as he spoke. His nerves were
thoroughly shaken by the exertions he had made to save Gudel and
himself.

Bobichel here lifted himself up.

"Fanfar," he said, "let me help you!"

At these kind words uttered by this honest, faithful voice, Fanfar
started. He had no right to despair, he said to himself, when he had
such friends.

"You are right, Bobichel," he cried. "I have no right to talk of my
energy, for I am trembling like a woman!"

"I should like to tell you what I think, sir," the clown stammered,
"though I do not wish to take a liberty, but didn't you say you thought
you had found your sister?"

"Oh! do not say that!"

"Yes, I must say it, and I think it would be best if you made up your
mind that it was she, and acted on that supposition."

"I think you are right. I am told that this girl lives with a poor
paralytic. I will go to her and question her. From her replies I shall
be able to judge if chance has really put me on the track of her whom I
lost so long ago. But we ought to follow these scoundrels at once!"

"I will see to them!" said Iron Jaws.

"Can you give