e trouble?"

"Yes--and not one moment to lose!"

Bobichel was wide awake and on his feet. He opened the door for
Caillette. Her father was on the bed asleep. Fanfar was asleep, too,
sitting in his chair.

Fanfar started up. "Caillette!" he exclaimed.

"Yes--wake my father at once!"

"He is so weary, and needs rest."

"It is a question of your liberty--his liberty and your lives!"

Gudel now opened his eyes.

"What is the matter, child?" he asked.

"The police are coming to arrest you!"

"What nonsense!"

Caillette instantly repeated the disconnected words uttered by La
Roulante.

"She can't know anything!" said Gudel, uneasily. "Bobichel!" he called.

"I am here, master!" answered the clown.

"Where is Robeccal?"

"I don't know--he went away three hours ago."

"Where was he going?"

"I don't know--I was too sleepy to ask."

Gudel questioned Caillette again. "Had La Roulante distinctly spoken of
papers?"

It was only too clear that there had been spies in their camp.

"Fanfar," said Gudel, "when one accepts a mission like ours his life no
longer belongs to himself. We must fly, and at once!"

"But how?"

"We will take the horses that belong to the chariot."

"And do you forget me, father?" asked Caillette.

"No--I confide you to Bobichel."

"Oh! Fanfar, do not leave me!" sobbed the young girl.

"Dear child, there are great dangers to run!"

"Yes, but with you I should not be afraid."

"And master--am I to be left behind?" asked the clown.

"Very well, we four will go, then," answered Gudel. "But you forget that
we have not horses enough," he added.

"But I have legs," interposed Bobichel, "and I can overtake you wherever
you go. You can take Caillette on behind."

"Yes, that would do very well, would it not, Fanfar?" asked the girl,
eagerly.

"Where shall we go?" said Fanfar to Gudel.

"We had best take the road to Paris. If we are pursued, we shall find a
hiding-place there as well as anywhere else."

"Shall we wake Schwann?" asked the clown.

"No, no--what is the use? I do not wish him to be compromised, either,
and when they question him they will find that he really knows nothing.
You, Bobichel, bring out the horses--the saddles are in the wagon. Go,
and make haste!"

Gudel here stopped short.

"My wife!" he said.

"But, master, it is she who has betrayed you!" cried Bobichel.

"It is she who has saved us!" Gudel replied.

"Yes, but without meaning to do so."