notes; they are rare even at Limoges, where they are only taken at a
discount. This money has been given to you; you will not tell me by
whom, and I don't ask you; but listen to me: if you have anything more
to do in this town relating to your poor brother, take care! You and
Monsieur Bonnet and your brother Louis will be followed by police-spies.
Your family is known to have left Montegnac, and as soon as you are
seen here you will be watched and surrounded before you are aware of
it."

"Alas!" she said. "I have nothing more to do here."

"She is cautious," thought the lawyer, as he parted from her.
"However, she is warned; and I hope she will get safely off."

* * * * *

During this last week in September, when the weather was as warm as in
summer, the bishop gave a dinner to the authorities of the place.
Among the guests were the _procureur-du-roi_ and the attorney-general.
Some lively discussions prolonged the party till a late hour. The
company played whist and backgammon, a favorite game with the clergy.
Toward eleven o'clock the _procureur-du-roi_ walked out upon the upper
terrace. From the spot where he stood he saw a light on that island to
which, on a certain evening, the attention of the bishop and the Abbe
Gabriel had been drawn,--Veronique's "Ile de France,"--and the gleam
recalled to the _procureur's_ mind the unexplained mysteries of the
Tascheron crime. Then, reflecting that there could be no legitimate
reason for a fire on that lonely island in the river at that time of
night, an idea, which had already struck the bishop and the secretary,
darted into his mind with the suddenness and brilliancy of the flame