you nor I expected." Then he added, in a serious tone, "Listen, master.
People may say what they like, but there is something in the
air,--there, up there, above our heads, very wonderful; which seems to
say to a man, 'Go where I send you.' See how you two have been sent
here. It is devilish wonderful!"

"What are you doing there?" said Rodolph, greatly surprised.

"I was on the lookout in a matter of yours, master; but, thunder and
lightning! what a high joke that you should come at this particular
moment into this very neighbourhood of my country-house! There's
something in all this,--decidedly there is something."

"But again I ask you, what are you doing there?"

"All in good time, I'll tell you; only let me first look about me for a
moment."

The Chourineur then ran towards the coach, which was some distance off,
looked this way and that way over the plain with a keen and rapid
glance, and then rejoined Rodolph, running quickly.

"Will you explain to me the meaning of all this?"

"Patience, patience, good master; one word more. What's o'clock?"

"Half past twelve," said Rodolph, looking at his watch.

"All right; we have time, then. The Chouette will not be here for the
next half-hour."

"The Chouette!" cried Rodolph and the girl both at once.

"Yes, the Chouette; in two words, master, I'll tell you all. Yesterday,
after you had left the _tapis-franc_, there came--"

"A tall man with a woman in man's attire, who asked for me; I know all
about that, but then--"

"Then they paid for my liquor, and wanted to 'draw' me about you. I had
nothing to tell them, because you had communicated nothing to me, except
those fisticuffs which settled me. All I know is, that I learned
something then which I shall not easily forget. But we are friends for
life and death, Master Rodolph, though the devil burn me if I know why.
I feel for you the regard which the bulldog feels for his master. It was
after you told me that I had 'heart and honour;' but that's nothing, so
there's an end of it. It is no use trying to account for it; so it is,
and so let it be, if it's any good to you."

"Many thanks, my man; but go on."

"The tall man and the little lady in men's clothes, finding that they
could get nothing out of me, left the ogress's, and so did I; they going
towards the Palais de Justice, and I to Notre Dame. On reaching the end
of the street I found it was raining pitchforks, points downward,--a
complete deluge. The