llot stopped for his master, while Armand d'Arcy,
plucking my sleeve, whispered, "Do you know where we are?"

"Yes," I answered quietly, "I recognise the street. Higher up on the
other side is the house of Martin the astrologer. We shall discover
something now. Unless I am very greatly mistaken we are close to
Peleton's hiding-place."

"Your cousin is an artful rascal, Albert. Just notice how
unconcernedly he walks along. No one would imagine he was in any
danger. Ah! They are crossing the road! _Corbleu!_ you were
right--they are going to Martin's."

"Follow me one at a time, and without making a sound," I said, softly.
"Keep close to the wall, and well out of sight. What an old fox Martin
is! I thought Mazarin had taught him a lesson."

Hiding in a doorway below the astrologer's house we awaited events. It
was evident that Pillot had not fetched his master for nothing, and
Raoul, who stood next to me, whispered, "They have scented danger of
some sort, either to Henri or to Peleton."

"Peleton is shut up in that house somewhere, take my word for it," I
answered quietly. "Look!"

Drawing a whistle from beneath his mantle, Henri blew sharply, and
almost immediately the window was thrown up. We could not hear the
conversation, but presently the man inside closed the window, and a few
minutes later the door was opened. Then Henri said something in a
whisper to Pillot and entered. The little man waited till his master
had disappeared, gave a last glance at the house, and turned, as we
supposed, to come down the street.

"Let him pass," whispered Raoul, "then spring on him from behind and
clap a mantle over his head. We must not let him call for help."

"Be as gentle as possible; he is a plucky fellow, and I am a long way
in his debt. Don't forget that he saved my life."

To our surprise, however, Pillot did not get farther than the next
house, when he stopped, and began to unlock the door. This unexpected
manoeuvre held us in amazement, but Raoul, who had no intention to be
thus baulked of his prey, acted promptly. Bounding from his
hiding-place, he reached the door almost at one leap, and his hands
closed like a vice round Pillot's neck. The next instant we were all
in the passage, and D'Arcy closed the door.

"Now," exclaimed Raoul, loosening his grip, "if you raise your voice
you are a dead man. Do you understand?"

"'Tredame!" spluttered the dwarf, rubbing his neck, "monsieur explains