ed Bouchon, in his brutal manner.

"There is no need of falling out by the way," said Grandan. "We need
Joubart, and he needs us. That little speech will do very well for the
chamber; there it would tell. Here we understand one another. Not one of
us will risk his head without a probability of success. Joubart has not
seen Delevert; else he would know that the mine is well dug, and will
and _must_ explode before to-morrow evening. The chiefs of the _Cabet_,
_St. Simon_, _Lebout_, _Carac_, _Tuvir_, and five others, whose names I
must not mention now, have drawn their followers together to act under
the orders of the secret council. The council has decreed a permanent
sitting until its object is accomplished; and accomplished it will be at
all hazards."

"What can keep Madame Georgiana so long?" whispered Labotte to
Longchamp. "She promised to be with us by ten o'clock, and bring with
her the fair Louise. It is past ten now, and I told the coachman to draw
up before the little door in the wall on the Ruelle des Trois
Chandelles."

"I am afraid," replied Longchamp, "that you and Bouchon will get into
trouble by your intrigues, and draw your friends also into difficulties.
_Diable!_ are there no pretty girls in France besides this Louise? and
what possessed Bouchon to fall in love with the picture of this American
half savage?"

"Hist! hist! Bouchon will hear you. As to his affair, all I can say
there is no accounting for taste. Mine is of a different nature. Louise
has charms besides those of her person. The happy possessor of that fair
devotee will also be entitled to receive an annual revenue of one
hundred thousand francs; no trifling consideration. But the girl is not
aware that she is heir to such wealth; and, if she were, would not be
able to establish her claim without the aid of certain papers, which I
alone know where to find."

"Well, there maybe some reason in your passion, but I see none in that
of Bouchon. However, let us go in quest of our fair hostess. We can do
so without any one being aware of our object."

Before they had time to rise from their seats the door flew open, and
Bertram, with Develour and his followers, all armed to the teeth,
entered the room. Not a word was spoken by either party for a few
seconds. The conspirators were speechless from surprise and momentary
fear; while the others executed their movements rapidly and in silence,
according to Bertram's orders, who wished to surround t