answer as if it were a matter of course; 'there is no need. I shall rejoin him directly; I am only waiting to say good-bye to my host.' 'The colonel is busy at present; you may have some time to wait.' 'Yes,' René said, with eager interest; he had far better come into the house. I will go and fetch him.' The air round Lucien seemed to be thick with cobwebs; as fast as he tore his way through them, invisible spiders were weaving them again. One thing alone was clear: Blum should not be permitted to enter the house. 'Do not go!' he said, detaining René. Indeed he would rather remain outside.' There was a hurried, indefinite stir and drawing together of the party round the window. 'Do you not see that he must either go or stay?' said René, in an excited whisper. The situation is impossible.' 'Impossible!' said Guibourg. Lucien looked from the anxious faces beside him to the threatening faces at the window, and out beyond to the sturdy red face of Blum. Why was it impossible that he should go on walking up and down the terrace? Again the sound of wheels. The same carriage drove round to the door with fresh horses. René gave a low sigh. 'Too late now! We must run the risk.' 'Who is the gentleman in front of the house?' said a gentle voice, which Lucien took to be that of madame de Nacquart. He looked in the direction whence it came. The inner door was open; there stood a little lady in gray, wearing a straw hat and a green veil, the former occupants of the carriage, and the colonel. Madame de Nacquart, however, was nowhere to be seen. Everyone looked at Lucien as though expecting him to answer. Desperately conscious that, whatever the occasion might be, it was not an occasion for telling the truth, he could not find out any invention. 'It is a friend of mine. He came from Lyons to speak to me on private business.' 'Perhaps we might set him on his way,' said the lady. May I inquire his name?' In cold blood Lucien could have found a dozen imaginary names in as many seconds; not one would occur to him now. 'Charles Blum,' he said, and felt as if he were signing a warrant. 'I told you so,' cried one of the younger men. 'I knew him; he writes for the Glaneuse. A low Republican rascal!' 'Pardon me,' said Lucien, stepping forward, his eyes on fire, 'I do not hear him spoken of in those terms.' The lady laughed. 'We are all Republicans,' she said softly. 'It is nothing but jealousy on the part of this gentleman— two of a trade. Let me speak to him.' She went down the steps to the terrace, and accosted the unwelcome visitor. 'Yes, that will be best,' they heard her say aloud. Then she addressed the colonel: Monsieur Blum is willing to come with me as far as Bressuire. I told him that we had all heard of the fame of his articles. I cannot refuse myself the pleasure of a little discussion. Besides, you know what we heard this morning. He may learn something to the advantage of his paper.' 'I shall wait for you at Bressuire,' shouted Blum, waving his hand. Lucien stood petrified. 'Be sure you wait until he comes!' René cried. Bowing and smiling, Blum scrambled into the carriage. In another moment he was seated opposite the little lady; Guibourg and two others jumped in after them, and they were driven off. CHAPTER XII THE FORDING OF THE RIVER 'I AM happy to make over to you the sum agreed upon,' said the colonel, bestowing a thousand francs on Lucien. The person to whom this packet is addressed is not here. I cannot believe that it is your intention to return to Lyons. You would doubtless wish to pursue your researches further?' Lucien, who was still pondering over the mystery of the rape of Blum, did not reply at once. 'He does wish to return to Lyons-I knew he did!' muttered the excited young man. 'Pancallier!' The word roused Lucien. A man naturally dislikes to be called a cabbage. Of course I desire to take this packet to the person to whom it is addressed,' he said. The young man shrugged his shoulders; he still said Pancallier with his shoulders. 'In that case '-de Nacquart drew Lucien into the recess of a window- you will have to stay here for the next few hours. Names are not mentioned among us. Two of my guests will accompany you to the right place after nightfall.' 'I am completely in the dark by daylight,' Lucien said. 'Am I allowed to ask one single question? The name of one person only?' De Nacquart looked at him suspiciously. Whose name do you wish to know?' 'That of the gentleman in whose service I find myself.' The colonel's look of blank astonishment was quickly followed by one of utter distrust. 'I do not understand the young men of these days,' Go or stay as you like. I have no time for he said. talking.' 'I have never heard the name of Dumas-therefore I am a spy. I do not know the Breton name for a cabbage therefore I am a traitor. I do not knowbecause I have no means of knowing-the name of my employer-therefore I am a spy and a traitor both. What strange conclusions they draw!' thought Lucien; but all he said was, 'I think, sir, with your consent, I will stay.' 'Very well. Pray make use of my study there, or of the garden, whichever you prefer. My two friends will be ready for you here on the steps at five o'clock.' Lucien availed himself of the permission to be free, and wandered into the garden. He cherished a hope that madame de Nacquart might appear there. He thought her kind, and perhaps she might be willing to talk otherwise than in riddles. Even if she were not, he had longed, ever since that night at Morfontaine, to measure himself against a woman. Yet, unaccountably, he felt that she was gone that she never would come; and she never did. He was resting under a hawthorn, his head on his hand, when the glint of the sun upon a tarnished gold button, at the end of a green woollen cap, caught his eye. He started to his feet. It was-yes-no-why, |