r over forty years, had to take upon
himself the laborious duties of the stables and the pantry.

"Come, father," said Angelique, trying to make him listen to
common-sense. "I really can't see what you are afraid of. No one can
force me into this ridiculous marriage."

"Well, of course, that's not what I'm afraid of."

"What then, father?"

"How can I tell? An abduction! A burglary! An act of violence! There is
no doubt that the villain is scheming something; and there is also no
doubt that we are surrounded by spies."

One afternoon, he received a newspaper in which the following paragraph
was marked in red pencil:

"The signing of the marriage-contract is fixed for this evening, at
the Sarzeau-Vendome town-house. It will be quite a private ceremony
and only a few privileged friends will be present to congratulate
the happy pair. The witnesses to the contract on behalf of Mlle. de
Sarzeau-Vendome, the Prince de la Rochefoucauld-Limours and the
Comte de Chartres, will be introduced by M. Arsene Lupin to the two
gentlemen who have claimed the honour of acting as his groomsmen,
namely, the prefect of police and the governor of the Sante
Prison."

Ten minutes later, the duke sent his servant Hyacinthe to the post with
three express messages. At four o'clock, in Angelique's presence, he saw
the three cousins: Mussy, fat, heavy, pasty-faced; d'Emboise, slender,
fresh-coloured and shy: Caorches, short, thin and unhealthy-looking: all
three, old bachelors by this time, lacking distinction in dress or
appearance.

The meeting was a short one. The duke had worked out his whole plan of
campaign, a defensive campaign, of which he set forth the first stage in
explicit terms:

"Angelique and I will leave Paris to-night for our place in Brittany. I
rely on you, my three nephews, to help us get away. You, d'Emboise, will
come and fetch us in your car, with the hood up. You, Mussy, will bring
your big motor and kindly see to the luggage with Hyacinthe, my man.
You, Caorches, will go to the Gare d'Orleans and book our berths in the
sleeping-car for Vannes by the 10.40 train. Is that settled?"

The rest of the day passed without incident. The duke, to avoid any
accidental indiscretion, waited until after dinner to tell Hyacinthe to
pack a trunk and a portmanteau. Hyacinthe was to accompany them, as well
as Angelique's maid.

At nine o'clock, all the other servants went to bed, by thei