s, the sanded floor, the spotless cleanliness of the table
furniture, of a sudden struck him as he thought of the violence and
anger of the scene on the Bristol road. What would this gentle Friend
say, and the Pearl? What, indeed!

Supper was just over when, to Rene's relief, Schmidt appeared. He nodded
coolly to Rene and said, laughing: "Ah, Frau Swanwick, I have not had a
chance to growl; but when I go again to the country, I shall take Nanny.
I survive; but the diet!" He gave an amusing account of it. "Pork--it is
because of the unanimous pig. Pies--ach!--cabbage, a sour woman and sour
bread, chicken rigged with hemp and with bosoms which need not stays."
Even the vicomtesse smiled. "I have dined at Mr. Morris's, to my relief.
Come, Rene, let us smoke."

When once at ease in his room, he exclaimed: "_Potstausend_, Rene, I am
out of debt. The years I used to count to be paid are settled. Two days'
watching that delirious swine and bottling up the gossiping little demon
Chovet! A pipe, a pipe, and then I shall tell you."

"Indeed, I have waited long."

"Chovet told Fauchet at my request of this regrettable affair. He is
uneasy, and he well may be, concerning all there is left of his
secretary."

"Then he is alive," said Rene; "and will he live?"

"Alive? Yes, very much alive, raving at times like a madman haunted by
hell fiends. I had to stay. After a day he was clear of head, but as
weak as a man can be with the two maladies of a ball in a palsied
shoulder and a doctor looking for it. Yes, he will live; and alive or
dead will make mischief."

"Did he talk to you?"

"Yes. He has no memory of my coming at the time he was shot. I think he
did not see me at all."

"Well, what else?"

"I told him the whole story, and what I had seen him do. I was plain,
too, and said that I had found his despatch, and you, being a gentleman,
must needs see that it went. He saw, I suspect, what other motive you
had--if he believed me at all."

"But did he believe you? Does he?"

"No, he does not. I said, 'You are scamp enough to swear that we set on
you to steal your papers, a fine tale for our Jacobin mobocrats.' A
fellow can't lie with his whole face. I saw his eyes narrow, but I told
him to try it if he dared, and out comes my tale of his treachery. We
made a compact at last, and he will swear he was set upon and robbed. I
left him to invent his story. But it is plainly his interest to keep
faith, and not accuse you."