ve and free."

"Alive and free! Ah! I dare not hope. But tell me the whole."

"You remember that I sent you a note to give to Fanfar?"

"Yes--I have it still."

"Now, if you are not afraid of a little dampness, I will show you
something."

Irene looked at Gudel in amazement.

"Very good, but first about Fanfar?"

"I assure you, dear lady, that he is safe. Now, Bobichel, go; see and
hear all you can, and if you find out anything new, come to me at once."

"All right, master," and with a double somersault Bobichel vanished.

Gudel lighted a lantern, and then said to Irene that he was ready. They
went out into a corridor, and Gudel, taking a key from his pocket,
opened a small door which showed stone steps going down.

"Be careful," said Iron Jaws, "for the steps are very slippery."

He held the lantern high and guided her steps. It was like a gnome
guiding a fairy into some mine of wealth. But it was not toward any
treasure that Gudel conducted Irene. He opened another door after
pushing several bolts.

"Up with you!" he cried, "you have company!"

Notwithstanding all her courage, Irene started back.

"Have no fear, Mademoiselle," said Iron Jaws, "he is a ferocious beast,
but he is chained!"

Irene beheld a man fastened to the wall with an iron chain. At first she
did not recognize him.

"This individual," said Gudel, "is Cyprien, the man who does all the
dirty work of his excellency the Marquis de Fongereues, going so far as
to do a little poisoning on occasion."

"Undo my chain!" cried Cyprien.

"Not if I know it! But if you answer my questions, you shall have
something to eat."

"I am hungry!" murmured the rascal.

"Pshaw! one meal each day will certainly prevent your being miserable.
Now, why did you poison Fanfar?"

The fellow sighed.

"Tell me what interest you had in poisoning Fanfar."

"I don't know."

"That is a lie!"

"He can tell you nothing," whispered Irene, "let him go."

"No, Mademoiselle. This scoundrel bribed one of the jailers to give
Fanfar a drug that would have killed him in five minutes. Fortunately, I
was on the watch. I captured Cyprien and I brought him here. But I
confess I am greatly puzzled by one thing--it is that I can't make out
what the Marquis had against Fanfar, and this animal will not tell me."

"My friend," said Irene, "however guilty you may be, you are but the
instrument of others. Why, then, do you not try to make amends for your
errors by telling