one seems to notice her
pallor. The fog is so thick that she is but dimly seen. She reaches the
bridge over the Saint Martin Canal; here she stops, and leaning over the
parapet seems to contemplate the dark water running below. While she
stands there, we will see what is taking place in the house she has
left.

Robeccal and La Roulante when they left the house, went to take the
diligence in the Rue Saint Denis. Their plans had been long made; they
meant to return to Robeccal's former home. They were groping their way
through the fog, when suddenly Robeccal was lifted from the ground, and
then flung some distance, while a voice shouted:

"Scoundrel! I have you at last!"

At the same moment, an iron grasp nailed the giantess to the spot where
she stood. The two wretches gasped out the names:

"Fanfar! Bobichel!"

"Where is Francine?" said Fanfar, sternly.

La Roulante laughed, and would not reply.

"Speak!" said Fanfar. "I know the whole story. Where is that girl?"

La Roulante knew that Fanfar was not to be trifled with, and after all
why should she not now tell? She wanted to be free, that she and
Robeccal might go far away.

"Take your hand away, and I will tell you."

"The truth, you understand, and make haste."

"Well, the girl is not far away."

"Alone?"

"I do not know."

"Show me the house."

"It is easy enough to find."

"Show me the way."

"No, it was not in the bargain."

"Show me the way."

Bobichel looked upon this delay as worthy of being celebrated, by
lifting Robeccal by the skin of his neck as he would have lifted a cat.

These people now took their way to the deserted house.

La Roulante uttered a cry as they reached the house, for the door was
open. She ran into the house, and flew toward the stairs. Fanfar was
behind her. She beheld the window open.

"Look!" she cried, "he has taken her away!"

"Of whom do you speak?"

"Of the Vicomte de Talizac."

"Talizac!" exclaimed Fanfar, "would that I could kill that man!"

The house was searched, and found entirely deserted.

A folded paper lay on the table in the lower room. She snatched it up.
It contained only these words from Talizac:

"You have infamously swindled me. You have taken the girl away, but I
shall find her and be even with you."

"The man lies!" yelled the woman.

Fanfar was nearly stunned. He now had not the smallest clue to Francine.

"Bobichel," he said, sadly. "Fate is against us. Come with me."

"