o you think of it?"

"I cannot answer you before I have examined it all myself,--that is, by
the aid of my wife; but, if all you tell me is as you say, I think it
would be the thing to do it at once this evening."

And the ruffian looked earnestly at Rodolph.

"This evening!--impossible!" replied he.

"Why, since the occupier does not return until the day after
to-morrow?"

"Yes, but I--I cannot this evening--"

"Really? Well, and I--I cannot to-morrow."

"Why not?"

"For the reason that prevents you this evening," said the robber, in a
tone of mockery.

After a moment's reflection, Rodolph replied:

"Well, then, this evening be it. Where shall we meet?"

"We will not separate," said the Schoolmaster.

"Why not?"

"Why should we?"

"What is the use of separating? The weather has cleared up, and we will
go and walk about, and give a look at the Allee des Veuves; you will see
how my woman will work. When that is done, we will return and play a
hand at piquet, and have a bit of something in a place in the Champs
Elysees that I know, near the river; and, as the Allee des Veuves is
deserted at an early hour, we will walk that way about ten o'clock."

"I will join you at nine o'clock."

"Do you or do you not wish that we should do this job together?"

"I do wish it."

"Well, then, we do not separate before evening, or else--"

"Or else?"

"I shall think that you are making 'a plant' for me, and that's the
reason you wish to part company now."

"If I wished to set the 'traps' after you, what is to prevent my doing
so this evening?"

"Why, everything. You did not expect that I should propose the affair to
you so soon, and if you do not leave us you cannot put anybody up to
it."

"You mistrust me, then?"

"Most extremely. But as what you propose may be quite true and honest,
and the half of sixty thousand francs is worth a risk, I am willing to
try for it; but this evening, or never; if never, I shall have my
suspicions of you confirmed, and one day or other I will take care and
let you dine off a dish of my cooking."

"And I will return your compliment, rely on it."

"Oh, this is all stuff and nonsense!" said the Chouette. "I think with
_fourline_, to-night or never."

Rodolph was in a state of extreme anxiety; if he allowed this
opportunity to escape of laying hands on the Schoolmaster, he might
never again light on him. The ruffian would ever afterwards be on his
guard, or if recognised,