ssed the servant a large silver coin, and walked on.

The servant bowed again and examined the coin, in the process of
bobbing his head.

"Five francs," said the consul's servant, to himself; "he's a real
swell, anyone can see."

One word more.

The five-franc piece which had in no slight degree biassed the
servant's opinion of the visitor, was one of Pierre Lenoir's admirable
manufacture.

* * * *

"Let's have a look at the letter, Chivey," said Herbert Murray, as soon
as his servant got back.

But Chivey seemed to hesitate.

"Come, come," said Murray, "we shall not quarrel about the terms."

"We oughnt't to," returned the tiger, "for it's worth a Jew's eye."

Murray tore the letter open and read it down eagerly.

As it throws some additional light upon the actual state of affairs
with the Harkaway party, possibly it may be as well to give the letter
of young Jack to the consul verbatim.

It was dated from the prison.

"SIR,--I wish to solicit your immediate assistance in getting
released from the above uncomfortable premises, where, in company
with a party of friends and fellow-travellers, I have been by a
singular accident carried by the police. From scraps of information
I have gained while here, I believe I am correct in asserting that
we have fallen into a trap, cunningly prepared for us by an
unscrupulous fellow-countryman of ours, who has cogent reasons for
wishing us out of the way, and has accordingly caused me and my
friends to be arrested as coiners. The person in question is named
Herbert Murray, but I am unable to say under what _alias_ he is at
present known in this part of the world. I mention this that you
may be able to keep an eye upon the individual pending our release
on bail, for I presume that bail is a French institution. My
signature will serve you for reference on me, as it may readily be
identified at my father's bankers here, Messrs. B. Fould & Co.

"Your obedient servant,

"JACK HARKAWAY."

Herbert Murray pursed his brows as he read on.

"What do you think of that?" demanded Chivey.

"Queer!"

"Precious queer."

"The one lesson to be learnt from it, Chivey," said his master, "is to
stop all correspondence between the prisoners and the consul."

"And push forward the trial as much as possible."

"Yes, and get together as many reliable witnesses as we ca