me regarded the masses as little if any
superior to cattle or any other of their possessions.

In the country the common man toiled a serf without wages, for his
master; while in Paris itself, the centre of gayety and fashion, the
fruit of his toil was expended by the aristocrats in prodigal luxury.

The bourgeoisie or middle class bore the brunt of the taxes. A gay
parasitic element, the demi-monde, ministered to the nobles'
pleasures. Below, the "submerged tenth" of the thievish and begging
classes plied their questionable trades, with a large margin of the
city's population on the very verge of starvation.

It hints eloquently of the terrible conditions that there were no less
than _thirty thousand professional beggars in Paris at this time_.
Their wan, pinched faces, gaunt forms and palsied vitality were an
outstanding reproach to a flower-like but decadent aristocratic
culture founded on the muck of cruelty and oppression.

Nothing had the girls (or the simpleminded country Doctor who sped
them) known of the dangers or pitfalls of the city. Vile gallantry or
viler underworld was looking for just such prey....

CHAPTER III

WHAT HAPPENED AT THE COACH HOUSE

The Normandy-Paris stage swung into the city as the shades of evening
were falling and deposited our heroines at journey's end in a little
square beyond the Pont Neuf where the coach house was situated. As
they alighted, cries of "Sedan! Sedan chair!" were heard. Brawling
chairmen "mixed it" with pummeling fists and kicking legs to be in the
front lines for the passengers' custom.

'Twas a terrifying scene from which they were glad to escape to a side
bench whence they watched the homeward hurrying throngs and looked
vainly for Monsieur Martin. As in the country, Henriette tried to pass
the time of day with divers and sundry folk, but it was no use. They
gave her queer looks or hurried on, as if stone deaf.

"They simply pay no attention to you here!" she complained to Louise,
"but never mind! Cousin Martin will come soon, and take us to his
home."

Presently the city lamplighter was lighting the street lantern above
them; he went his way and the Place was deserted.

There _was_ a man lurking in the shadows of a portico nearby, though
'twould somewhat strain credulity to imagine him the elderly tradesman
Martin. He was a powerful and burly figure, black habited, of impudent
visage quite unlike a gentle relative's. In the deeper shadows back o