ont de Jena_, and presently he heard the steps
again, and before him on the bridge was a dark shadow. Was it Jane?

He called, "Jane, my child!"

Then he saw the shadow spring to the parapet, and something black passed
between him and the sky--the splash of water, and all was still.

"Too late!" cried Sanselme, "but I will save her." And he in his turn
leaped into the water. He was a vigorous swimmer, as will be remembered
by our readers.

When he rose to the surface after his plunge, he looked around, and at
some distance beheld a dark spot. He swam toward it and seized the
woman's arm. She was just sinking. And now this man was so overwhelmed
with emotion, that the blood rushed to his brain and his limbs were
almost paralyzed. Fortunately the shore was not far away, but the woman
clung convulsively to him.

He called for aid, but all was silent and dark. He knew that he was
sinking, and that the end was near. Suddenly a voice shouted:

"Courage! we are coming." And two men appeared swimming vigorously.

"I have one, Bobichel!"

"And I have another, Monsieur Fanfar."

With their burthens our old friends reached the shore.

"God grant that it is not too late!" said Fanfar, kneeling by the side
of the two inanimate forms. "What had we best do?"

"Take them up on our shoulders, sir, and carry them along. Fortunately,
the house is not far off."

And Bobichel threw Sanselme over his shoulder as easily as if he had
been a bag of meal, while Fanfar took the woman. They stopped at a small
house not far from the Quai; every blind was closed; Fanfar uttered a
peculiar cry.

"Is that you?" asked a woman's voice.

"Myself," answered Fanfar.

The door opened, and presently the two bodies were laid on the floor.

Fanfar took a lamp and looked at them.

"I saw this man at the door where we stood to-night," said Bobichel.

"Yes, I saw him, too," answered Fanfar. "But who can this woman be?"

She was an old woman, with white hair.

"We must all go to work. Madame Fanfar, we want your help; hot linen and
flannels, if you please!"

CHAPTER LIV.

CARMEN.

Very stately and magnificent were the offices of the _Banque de Credit
Imperial_. The prospectus made one's mouth water. It was a magnificent
conception of the Emperor's. To interest small capitalists would
naturally result in great popularity.

Napoleon III. always felt a great interest in the money of other people,
and also, to use a vulgar expres