rochard leave?" he asked.

"He gave me the note at four o'clock yesterday afternoon, sir, and
stated that he was about to depart. I have not seen him since."

"Did he mention his destination?"

"No, sir."

Lepine regarded his companion thoughtfully.

"There is one thing that perhaps you _can_ tell me, Samson," he said.
"Previous to his departure, did he visit the house at 80 Rue du
Plasson?"

"I think it very probable," answered Samson, after a moment's
hesitation. "I myself furnished M. Crochard with that address, when he
returned to the cafe yesterday for his lunch."

"Ah!" said Lepine. "So it was you discovered it!"

He fell a moment silent, studying the other's countenance.

"You have indeed changed, Samson," he said, at last. "I suppose it was
Crochard who arranged your escape?"

Samson made no reply.

"You have a good business here?"

"Very good, sir."

"You know, of course, that it is my duty to denounce you as an escaped
criminal?"

"Yes, I know that, sir."

"Crochard tells me that he will answer for you--in other words, he
guarantees that you will not run away. Do you understand that?"

"Do not fear," said Samson, huskily. "Monsieur will always find me here
when he requires me."

Lepine looked at him for a moment, then got abruptly to his feet.

"Very well," he said; "I shall do nothing for the present," and he left
the cafe.

It was nearly eight o'clock, and, feeling the need of dinner, Lepine
made his way back to his hotel; but his hunger was destined to go
unsatisfied, for, as he stepped through the door, Pigot touched him on
the arm.

"M. Delcasse wishes to see you at once," he said, and Lepine, with one
regretful glance in the direction of the dining-room, hurried up the
stairs to the Minister's apartment. He found him dictating to his
secretary, a great pile of letters before him.

Without pausing in his dictation, Delcasse picked up a telegram which
lay at his elbow, and handed it to Lepine. It was dated from Paris, and
had been filed but an hour before. It read:

"Seven notes one hundred francs B162810R to B162816R
deposited to-day by Thomas Cook & Son.

"LINNE, Governor Bank of France."

Lepine laid the telegram on his desk and glanced at his watch.

"I must be in Paris in the morning," he said.

Delcasse nodded.

"Yes," he agreed. "And Crochard?"

"Is no doubt already there," and he handed Delcasse the note which
Samson had given him.

Delcass