h."

"The Chouette does not know you?"

"I saw her yesterday for the first time at the _tapis-franc_."

"This is what you must do. Hide yourself first; but, when you see her
come close to you, get out of this hole--"

"And twist her neck?"

"No, defer that for a time. To-day, only prevent her from speaking to
the tall man. He, seeing some one with her, will not approach; and if he
does, do not leave her alone for a moment. He cannot make his proposal
before you."

"If the man thinks me curious, I know what to do; he is neither the
Schoolmaster nor Master Rodolph. I will follow the Chouette like her
shadow, and the man shall not say a word that I do not overhear. He will
then be off, and after that I will have one little turn with the
Chouette. I must have it; it will be such a sweet drop for me."

"Not yet; the one-eyed hag does not know whether you are a thief or
not?"

"No, not unless the Schoolmaster has talked of me to her, and told her
that I did not do business in that line."

"If he have, you must appear to have altered your ideas on that
subject."

"I?"

"Yes."

"Ten thousand thunders! M. Rodolph, what do you mean? Indeed--truly--I
don't like it; it does not suit me to play such a farce as that."

"You shall only do what you please; but you will not find that I shall
suggest any infamous plan to you. The tall man once driven away, you
must try and talk over the Chouette. As she will be very savage at
having missed the good haul she expected, you must try and smooth her
down by telling her that you know of a capital bit of business which may
be done, and that you are then waiting for your comrade, and that, if
the Schoolmaster will join you, there is a lump of money to be made."

"Well, well."

"After waiting with her for an hour, you may say, 'My mate does not
come, and so the job must be put off;' and then you may make an
appointment with the Chouette and the Schoolmaster for to-morrow, at an
early hour. Do you understand me?"

"Quite."

"And this evening, at ten o'clock, meet me at the corner of the Champs
Elysees and the Allee des Veuves, and I will tell you more."

"If it is a trap, look out! The Schoolmaster is a scoundrel. You have
beaten him, and, no doubt, he will kill you if he can."

"Have no fear."

"By Jove! it is a 'rum start;' but do as you like with me. I do not
hesitate, for something tells me that there is a rod in pickle for the
Schoolmaster and the Chouette. One wor