us officer have been? What was he doing in the
room where the ropes had been deposited?

Martial racked his brain to discover an answer to these questions.

The Marquis de Courtornieu himself seemed much disturbed.

"How could you be ignorant that there were many sympathizers with this
movement in the garrison?" he said, angrily. "You might have known that
this visitor, who concealed his face so carefully, was an accomplice who
had been warned by Bavois, and who came to see if he needed a helping
hand."

This was a plausible explanation, still it did not satisfy Martial.

"It is very strange," he thought, "that Monsieur d'Escorval has not
even deigned to let me know he is in safety. The service which _I_ have
rendered him deserves that acknowledgment, at least."

Such was his disquietude that he resolved to apply to Chupin, even
though this traitor inspired him with extreme repugnance.

But it was no longer easy to obtain the services of the old spy. Since
he had received the price of Lacheneur's blood--the twenty thousand
francs which had so fascinated him--Chupin had deserted the house of the
Duc de Sairmeuse.

He had taken up his quarters in a small inn on the outskirts of the
town; and he spent his days alone in a large room on the second floor.

At night he barricaded the doors, and drank, drank, drank; and until
daybreak they could hear him cursing and singing or struggling against
imaginary enemies.

Still he dared not disobey the order brought by a soldier, summoning him
to the Hotel de Sairmeuse at once.

"I wish to discover what has become of Baron d'Escorval," said Martial.

Chupin trembled, he who had formerly been bronze, and a fleeting color
dyed his cheeks.

"The Montaignac police are at your disposal," he answered sulkily.
"They, perhaps, can satisfy the curiosity of Monsieur le Marquis. I do
not belong to the police."

Was he in earnest, or was he endeavoring to augment the value of his
services by refusing them? Martial inclined to the latter opinion.

"You shall have no reason to complain of my generosity," said he. "I
will pay you well."

But on hearing the word "pay," which would have made his eyes gleam with
delight a week before, Chupin flew into a furious passion.

"So it was to tempt me again that you summoned me here!" he exclaimed.
"You would do better to leave me quietly at my inn."

"What do you mean, fool?"

But Chupin did not even hear this interruption, and, with in