eavour to get out of my way? Was he
afraid that I should hand him over to Conde? Certainly he had been
mixed up in the plot, but so had Pierre and Francois, and the prince
had not thought it worth while to imprison either of them.

"There is some mystery about this which I must look into!" I muttered.
"Pillot is not the man to slink away without reason."

For the time, however, I could do nothing, but as soon as the King
returned to the Palais Royal I began an eager but unavailing search for
the dwarf. He had disappeared completely, and there was no trace of
him anywhere.

In the evening Raoul and John Humphreys met at my rooms and I informed
them of my discovery. The Englishman thought little of it, saying
Pillot was likely to keep out of my way, but Raoul, like myself,
fancied he had some reason for his strange behaviour.

"The fellow isn't afraid for himself," he declared. "He knows Conde
will not touch him, and besides, he is a plucky rascal. Depend on it,
there is something beneath this business, and I should guess it has to
do with Henri de Lalande."

"But my cousin is dead and buried!" I objected.

"Chut! You have no proof of it. He may be in hiding for what we know,
and waiting his opportunity. According to all accounts, he will soon
have little to fear from Conde."

"The prince is lost," exclaimed Humphreys. "Did you notice he stayed
away to-day? It is rumoured in the palace that the Queen is furious,
and that there is to be no more giving quarter. Conde will be an
outlaw before long."

"And it is my belief," remarked Raoul, "that when Conde goes, Henri
will reappear. Still, if you wish, Albert, we will help you to find
Pillot."

"The worst of it is I have not the faintest idea where to look."

"We can try the house in the Rue de Roi."

"The walk will do us good," said Humphreys, "and I am off duty till
midnight;" so, putting on our hats, we went into the street.

Paris was holding high holiday that evening. The buildings were
decorated with flags and streamers; bonfires cast a lurid light on the
animated scene; crowds of people went to and fro, laughing merrily and
cheering the nobles and ladies who rode by in their gorgeous carriages.
The spell of the morning was on them all; and though many realised that
the troubles would soon break out more fiercely than ever, every one
seemed bent on making the most of the brief truce.

"You Parisians are a remarkable set!" exclaimed Humphrey