attend to it; and see that you do so skilfully. And do you,
Maignan," I continued with meaning, "go with him. When he has
made the clock go, let him go; and not before, or you answer for
it. You understand, sirrah?"

Maignan saluted obsequiously, and in a moment hurried young
Perrot from the room; leaving me to congratulate myself on the
strange and fortuitous circumstance that had thrown him in my
way, and enabled me to guard against a RENCONTRE that might have
had the most embarassing consequences.

It required no great sagacity to foresee the, next move; and I
was not surprised when, about an hour later, I heard a clatter of
hoofs outside, and a voice inquiring hurriedly for the Marquis de
Rosny. One of my people announced M. de Perrot, and I bade them
admit him. In a twinkling he came up, pale with heat, and
covered with dust, his eyes almost starting from his head and his
cheeks trembling with agitation. Almost before the door was
shut, he cried out that we were undone.

I was willing to divert myself with him for a time, and I
pretended to know nothing. "What?" I said, rising. "Has the
King met with an accident?"

"Worse! worse!" he cried, waving his hat with a gesture of
despair. "My son--you saw my son yesterday?"

"Yes," I said.

"He overheard us!"