"I must see her, at all events."

And Gudel hurried to her room, and beheld her lying in a drunken stupor
on the floor. He shook his head sadly.

"After all, she has nothing to fear, and we may as well part in this way
as in any other--the end was coming!"

And he returned to his daughter and his friends, who in the meantime had
been making a rope of the sheets and blankets on the bed. With their aid
Bobichel dropped from the window.

"Now it is my turn!" said Caillette, and, light as a bird, she seized
the rope.

"Take care, child! Take care!" cried Fanfar.

"Would it pain you," she asked quickly, "if I came to grief?"

"Hush! child."

Little Caillette was very gay, and it was with a pretty, childish laugh
that she swung herself to the ground, where in two minutes her father
and Fanfar also stood.

The two horses, all saddled, stood ready.

"You have the papers, Fanfar?" asked Gudel, in a whisper.

"Yes--I have them."

"Then let us start at once."

Caillette, without the smallest hesitation, sprang on Fanfar's horse.

"And you, Bobichel?"

"Don't be troubled about me!"

"Hark!" cried Fanfar.

They listened, and heard distinctly the tread of horses in the distance.

"The police!" said Bobichel.

"They have lost no time, at all events!" And Gudel laughed. "But we have
the advantage, and I know a cross-road which will cut off a good bit."

The two horses stepped gingerly out of Schwann's premises, and when once
on the high road dashed madly forward. The inn was wrapped in silence
and almost in darkness--only one room was lighted, the one where the
Marquis sat, impatient and anxious. He, too, heard the horses galloping.
His plan had succeeded, then. In a few minutes the house would be
surrounded.

A group of horsemen suddenly appeared on the Square. Robeccal and
Cyprien were with them.

When Robeccal went away, he had taken the precaution to leave a window
open on the lower floor, which Schwann had not discovered in making his
rounds for the night.

Robeccal entered through this window and opened the door.

Schwann was aroused by footsteps below, and rushed down the stairs.
Seeing the police in uniform, he uttered an exclamation.

"The police in my house!" he cried.

"I ask your pardon, sir," answered the Brigadier of police, "but there
was urgent need. In the name of the king!"

Schwann repeated the words with a sigh.

"You have conspirators lodging here--enemies of the monarchy!"

"