public prosecutor is so well
guarded, that only those concerned about the courts may even knock at
the door.

"Monsieur le Comte," said Monsieur Gault, "the prisoner calling himself
Carlos Herrera wishes to speak with you."

"Has he had communication with anybody?" asked Monsieur de Granville.

"With all the prisoners, for he has been out in the yard since about
half-past seven. And he has seen the condemned man, who would seem to
have talked to him."

A speech of Camusot's, which recurred to his mind like a flash of light,
showed Monsieur de Granville all the advantage that might be taken of
a confession of intimacy between Jacques Collin and Theodore Calvi to
obtain the letters. The public prosecutor, glad to have an excuse for
postponing the execution, beckoned Monsieur Gault to his side.

"I intend," said he, "to put off the execution till to-morrow; but let
no one in the prison suspect it. Absolute silence! Let the executioner
seem to be superintending the preparations.

"Send the Spanish priest here under a strong guard; the Spanish Embassy
claims his person! Gendarmes can bring up the self-styled Carlos by your
back stairs so that he may see no one. Instruct the men each to hold him
by one arm, and never let him go till they reach this door.

"Are you sure, Monsieur Gault, that this dangerous foreigner has spoken
to no one but the prisoners!"

"Ah! just as he came out of the condemned cell a lady came to see
him----"

The two magistrates exchanged looks, and such looks!

"What lady was that!" asked Camusot.

"One of his penitents--a Marquise," replied Gault.

"Worse and worse!" said Monsieur de Granville, looking at Camusot.

"She gave all the gendarmes and warders a sick headache," said Monsieur
Gault, much puzzled.

"Nothing can be a matter of indifference in your business," said the
public prosecutor. "The Conciergerie has not such tremendous walls for
nothing. How did this lady get in?"

"With a regular permit, monsieur," replied the governor. "The lady,
beautifully dressed, in a fine carriage with a footman and a chasseur,
came to see her confessor before going to the funeral of the poor young
man whose body you had had removed."

"Bring me the order for admission," said Monsieur de Granville.

"It was given on the recommendation of the Comte de Serizy."

"What was the woman like?" asked the public prosecutor.

"She seemed to be a lady."

"Did you see her face?"

"She wore a black