y on the table.

"Damnation!" cried he. "If this little fool should die now, all our work
will have to be recommenced."

He thrust aside his chair, and paced hurriedly up and down the room.

"Florestan is right," said he; "this illness of the girl comes on at the
date of the rupture of the engagement. There is some secret that we must
learn, for we dare not work in the dark."

"Shall I go to the Hotel de Mussidan?" asked Hortebise.

"Not a bad idea. Your carriage is waiting, is it not? You can go in your
capacity as a medical man."

The doctor was preparing to go, when Mascarin arrested his progress.

"No," said he, "I have changed my mind. We must neither of us be seen
near the place. I expect that one of our mines has exploded; that the
Count and Countess have exchanged confidences, and that between the two
the daughter has been struck down."

"How shall we find this out?"

"I will see Florestan and try and find out."

In an instant he vanished into his inner room, and as he changed his
dress, continued to converse with the doctor.

"This blow would be comparatively trifling, if I had not so much on
hand, but I have Paul to look after. The Champdoce affair must be
pressed on, for Catenac, the traitor, has put the Duke and Perpignan
into communication. I must see Perpignan and discover how much has
been told him, and how much he has guessed. I will also see Caroline
Schimmel, and extract something from her. I wish to heaven that there
were thirty-six hours in the day instead of only twenty-four."

By this time he had completed his change of costume and called the
doctor into his room.

"I am off, now," whispered he; "do not lose sight of Paul for a single
instant, for we are not sufficiently sure of him to let him go about
alone with our secret in his possession. Take him to dine at Martin
Rigal's, and then make some excuse for keeping him all night at your
rooms. See me to-morrow."

And he went out so hurriedly that he did not hear the cheery voice of
the doctor calling after him,--

"Good luck; I wish you all good luck."

CHAPTER XIX.

A FRIENDLY RIVAL.

On leaving the Hotel de Mussidan, M. de Breulh-Faverlay dismissed
his carriage, for he felt as a man often does after experiencing some
violent emotion, the absolute necessity for exercise, and to be alone
with his thoughts, and by so doing recover his self-possession. His
friends would have been surprised if they had seen him pacing hurrie