the folds of his
bournous, she snatched it from him.

This is what she read:

"Carmen, my friend and my ally, you have promised your assistance.
Gladly do I claim it. My friends are in great peril. Jane Zeld has
vanished in the most mysterious manner, as has Esperance. There must
be in the Hotel de Monte-Cristo some secret issue which our enemies do
not know. The infamous L---- must possess this secret. Do your best to
discover it. You see that I place my reliance on you, for I love you.

"GOUTRAN."

Carmen uttered a joyous exclamation. Goutran loved her! Coucon turned
toward her.

"Well," he asked, "what am I to tell him?"

"Return to Monsieur Goutran and tell him that if it costs me my life I
will discover what he wishes to know. And remember that you must open
the door of the hotel to me at whatever time I may come. Of course, you
and Monsieur Goutran will be there all night. Now, go!"

At this moment a terrified looking servant entered the room.

"Mademoiselle," he said, "your father has just been taken ill."

Omar respectfully saluted the young girl, and was lost in the crowd. No
one noticed him, for there was much excitement over the illness of the
great financier. Carmen followed the lacquey with rather too slow a step
for the occasion. She was intensely irritated at this new comedy, and
she was tempted to cry out to the crowd:

"He lies! He has always lied!"

Laisangy was lying back in his chair. There was no physician in the
room, and yet the people about him talked knowingly of bleeding him.
Fortunately for him, Carmen arrived.

"I know what it is," she said; "he has had similar attacks before. He
will be better after a little rest."

And Carmen gave orders that the banker should be carried to his chamber.
Then excusing herself to her guests, she followed.

Laisangy, who was becoming greatly bored by the part he was playing,
supposed that Carmen would dismiss the servants and remain with him
herself; but she had quite other plans. She bade the men undress their
master and put him in his bed. Laisangy was ready to swear at her, but,
of course, he was too ill to dispute. If he suddenly revived and made a
row, then the story would get about of the ridiculous comedy he had
played. His patience was not long tried, however. Carmen only wanted to
gain a little time, in which she might hope to discover the contents of
a letter which she saw the banker receive and put in his pocket e