I must go to Paris on business. I shall be at the hotel Muids d'Amour,
Rue des Bourdonnais. Write down this address, and do not show it to any
one."

"Why so many precautions?"

Gaston hesitated.

"Because, if your devoted protector were known, his plans for aiding you
might be frustrated in case of bad intentions."

"You are somewhat mysterious, Gaston. I have a father who conceals
himself, and a lover--this word I can hardly speak--who is going to do
the same."

"But my intentions, you know," said Gaston, attempting to force a laugh.

"Ah, Madame Desroches is coming back. She thinks our interview too long.
I am as much under tutelage as at the convent."

Gaston imprinted a kiss on the hand Helene held out to him. As Madame
Desroches approached, Helene made a formal curtsey, which Gaston
returned by an equally formal bow.

Gaston left for Paris. Owen awaited him with impatience, and this time
could not reproach his master with being slow, for in three hours they
were in Paris.

CHAPTER XII.

CAPTAIN LA JONQUIERE.

There was, as the reader has learned, in the Rue des Bourdonnais, a
hotel where one could lodge, eat, and drink.

In his nocturnal interview with Dubois, Tapin had received the famous
name of La Jonquiere, and had transmitted it to L'Eveille, who had
passed it to all the chiefs of police, who had begun to search for the
suspected officer in all the equivocal houses in Paris. The conspiracy
of Cellamare, which we have related in a history of the Chevalier
d'Harmental, had taught them that everywhere conspirators were to be
found.

It was, however, by luck or by cleverness, Maitre Tapin himself who, in
the Rue des Bourdonnais and in the hotel Muids d'Amour, found La
Jonquiere, who was then a nightmare to Dubois.

The landlord took Tapin to be an old attorney's clerk, and replied to
his questions politely, that "the Captain la Jonquiere was in the hotel,
but was asleep."

Tapin asked no more. La Jonquiere was asleep, therefore he was in bed,
for it was only six in the morning; if he were in bed, then he must be
stopping at the inn.

Tapin went back to the Palais Royal, and found Dubois, who had just left
the regent. A number of false La Jonquieres had already been discovered
by his emissaries. One was a smuggler, called Captain la Jonciere, whom
L'Eveille had found and arrested. A second was La Jonquille, sergeant in
the French guards, and many others.

"Well," said Dubois, when T