"

"Cinette!" cried Fanfar, "how old is she!"

"Fifteen or sixteen, I should say."

"Merciful Heavens! Can it be she! Am I going mad?"

"What are you saying, sir?" and Montferrand seemed to feel a real
interest.

"You can't understand, but I shall save her. If I chance to meet that
Talizac, I will crush him as I would a venomous reptile!"

"You are going in pursuit of the girl?" asked Aube.

"Most certainly, nor will I rest until I have rescued her!"

"Accept my services," said Montferrand.

"Where am I to turn? What shall I do first? My head is dizzy." He held
himself more erect. "But this is no time to give way. Thank you, sir,
for your generous offer, of which I may avail myself later."

"I regret to have seemed, even for a moment, the accomplice of these
men. My name is Arthur, son of the Marquis de Montferrand. Here is my
card."

Fanfar took the bit of shining pasteboard.

"And here is my hand!" added Arthur.

"And now," said Fanfar, after a vigorous exchange of handshaking, "and
now we have not a moment to lose!"

There was another disturbance below. A great noise, and a voice
shouting, "Open! in the name of the law!"

Fanfar started.

"At last!" cried Aube. "It is the police; probably by this time the men
are arrested."

Fanfar laid his hand on his shoulder, and said rapidly, "No, no; the
police of Louis XVIII. do not disturb themselves for such trifles; they
are after other game than criminals--"

"Open, in the name of the king! If not, we force the door!"

"These officers are in pursuit of men who have sworn eternal war against
oppression and corruption--who detest a despotic monarchy and demand a
free and honest republic!"

"Do you speak of yourself?" asked Montferrand, quickly.

Aube opened his eyes wide. Certainly, this was a most extraordinary
evening!

"You are lost!" cried Montferrand.

"Not yet!" answered Fanfar. "Pray, Monsieur Aube, hold them in
conversation, a few minutes. Good-bye, but remember that I shall rescue
Francine." As he spoke, he ran lightly up the upper stairs.

Aube, according to his instructions, slowly raised the bars of the door,
at which the police were impatiently knocking. When at last the door was
opened, a crowd poured in, headed by a Police Commissioner.

"Keeping me waiting in this way will cost you dear, let me tell you!"
foamed this important functionary.

"But why are you here?" stammered the proprietor of the restaurant.

"I don't suppose