you long," he added with an evil smile. "You have arrived in
Paris at a fortunate moment. There is going to be a--well, there
is a little scheme on foot appointed for to-night--singularly
lucky you are!--for removing some objectionable people, some
friends of ours perhaps among them, M. Anne. That is all. You
will hear shots, cries, perhaps screams. Take no notice. You
will be in no danger. For M. de Pavannes," he continued, his
voice sinking, "I think that by morning I shall be able to give
you a--a more particular account of him to take to Caylus--to
Mademoiselle, you understand."

For a moment the mask was off. His face took a sombre
brightness. He moistened his lips with his tongue as though he
saw his vengeance worked out then and there before him, and were
gloating over the picture. The idea that this was so took such a
hold upon me that I shrank back, shuddering; reading too in
Croisette's face the same thought--and a late repentance. Nay,
the malignity of Bezers' tone, the savage gleam of joy in his
eyes appalled me to such an extent that I fancied for a moment I
saw in him the devil incarnate!

He recovered his composure very quickly, however; and turned
carelessly towards the door. "If you will follow me," he said,
"I will see you disposed of. You may have to complain of your
lodging--I have other things to think of to-night than
hospitality, But you shall not need to complain of your supper."

He drew aside the curtain as he spoke, and passed into the next
room before us, not giving a thought apparently to the
possibility that we might strike him from behind. There