any discovery you
may have made, and never give any information to the Duke without first
consulting us."

"I agree."

The contending parties seemed to have arrived at an amicable
termination, and Dr. Hortebise smiled complacently.

"Now," said he, "shall we not confess, after all, that there was no use
in making such a fuss?"

"I allow that I was in the wrong," answered Catenac meekly; and,
extending his hands to his two associates with an oily smile, he said:
"Let us forget and forgive."

Was he to be trusted? Mascarin and the doctor exchanged glances of
suspicion. A moment afterward a knock came to the door, and Paul
entered, making a timid bow to his two patrons.

"My dear boy," said Mascarin, "let me present you to one of my oldest
and best friends." Then, turning to Catenac, he added: "I wish to ask
you to help and assist my young friend here. Paul Violaine is a good
fellow, who has neither father nor mother, and whom we are trying to
help on in his journey through life."

The lawyer started as he caught the strange, meaning smile which
accompanied these words.

"Great heavens!" said he, "why did you not speak sooner?"

Catenac at once divined Mascarin's project, and understood the allusion
to the Duke de Champdoce.

CHAPTER XVII.

SOME SCRAPS OF PAPER.

The Marquis de Croisenois was never punctual. He had received a note
asking him to call on Mascarin at eleven o'clock, and twelve had struck
some time before he made his appearance. Faultlessly gloved, his glass
firmly fixed in his eye, and a light walking cane in his hand, and with
that air of half-veiled insolence that is sometimes affected by certain
persons who wish the world to believe that they are of great importance,
the Marquis de Croisenois entered the room.

At the age of twenty-five Henry de Croisenois affected the airs and
manners of a lad of twenty, and so found many who looked upon his
escapades with lenient eyes, ascribing them to the follies of youth.
Under this youthful mask, however he concealed a most astute and cunning
intellect, and had more than once got the better of the women with whom
he had had dealings. His fortune was terribly involved, because he had
insisted on living at the same rate as men who had ten times his income.
Forming one of the recklessly extravagant band of which the Duke de
Saumeine was the head, Croisenois, too, kept his racehorses, which
was certainly the quickest way to wreck the most princely