Mme. le Baronne. _Sauve qui peut!_"

And he ran out.

More agitated than ever Mme. de Thaller went up stairs. In the
little red-and-gold parlor, the Baron de Thaller and Mlle. Cesarine
were waiting for her. Stretched upon an arm-chair, her legs crossed,
the tip of her boot on a level with her eye, Mlle. Cesarine, with
a look of ironical curiosity, was watching her father, who, livid
and trembling with nervous excitement, was walking up and down, like
a wild beast in his cage. As soon as the baroness appeared,

"Things are going badly," said her husband, "very badly. Our game
is devilishly compromised."

"You think so?"

"I am but too sure of it. Such a well-combined stroke too! But
every thing is against us. In presence of the examining magistrate,
Jottras held out well; but Saint Pavin spoke. That dirty rascal
was not satisfied with the share allotted to him. On the
information furnished by him, Costeclar was arrested this morning.
And Costeclar knows all, since he has been your confidant, Vincent
Favoral's, and my own. When a man has, like him, two or three
forgeries in his record, he is sure to speak. He will speak.
Perhaps he has already done so, since the police has taken
possession of Latterman's office, with whom I had organized the
panic and the tumble in the Mutual Credit stock. What can we do
to ward off this blow?"

With a surer glance than her husband, Mme. de Thaller had measured
the situation.

"Do not try to ward it off," she replied: "It would be useless."

"Because?"

"Because M. de Tregars has found Vincent Favoral; because, at this
very moment, they are together, arranging their plans."

The baron made a terrible gesture.

"Ah, thunder and lightning!" he exclaimed. "I always told you that
this stupid fool, Favoral, would cause our ruin. It was so easy
for you to find an occasion for him to blow his brains out."

"Was it so difficult for you to accept M. de Tregars' offers?"

"It was you who made me refuse."

"Was it me, too, who was so anxious to get rid of Lucienne?"

For years, Mlle. Cesarine had not seemed so amused; and, in a half
whisper, she was humming the famous tune, from "The Pearl of
Poutoise,"

"Happy accord! Happy couple!"

M. de Thaller, beside himself, was advancing to seize the baroness:
she was drawing back, knowing him, perhaps to be capable of any
thing, when suddenly there was a violent knocking at the door.

"In the name of the law!