oubt as
to the man who was serving two masters. Merton had none. He went on:

"We mean to be plain with you. We are caught in the net of a big and
dangerous business."

"I had thought as much," said Alphonse. "Would M. le Capitaine
explain? No doubt there are circumstances--"

"Precisely. A woman has done what makes it necessary for us to recover
a certain document despite the police and the government. Understand
that if we succeed you get two thousand francs and run meanwhile risks
of a very serious nature."

"And my master?"

"Oh, he may lose his position. You and I and madame may be worse off."

"As to my position," I said, "leave me out of the question. We shall
all take risks."

"Then I accept," said Alphonse. "Monsieur has been most kind to my
mother, and circumstances have always attracted me--monsieur will
understand. What am I to do?"

"You are to examine the outside of Madame Bellegarde's villa by day
and at night--to-night--and report to us to-morrow morning. I have a
scheme for entering it and securing the document we want, but of that
we will speak when we hear your report. I have already ridden around
the place. I am trusting you entirely."

"No, monsieur, not quite entirely," said Alphonse, smiling.

Merton understood this queer fellow as I did not, for, as I sat
wondering what he meant, my friend said quietly: "No we have not told
you where the papers are concealed nor what they are. And you want to
know?"

A sudden panic seemed to fall on the valet. He winked rapidly, looked
to right and left, and then cried in a decisive way, with open hands
upraised as if to push away something: "No, monsieur, no.
Circumstances make it not to be desired."

From that moment I trusted the man. "Is that all, monsieur?" he said.

"No. I do not want you to act without knowing that we, all of us, are
about to undertake what is against the law and may bring death or, to
you at least, the galleys."

"I accept." He said it very quietly. "What other directions has
monsieur, or am I merely to report about the house and the guards? It
is easy."

"Yes, that is all at present. The danger comes later. Let us hear at
nine to-morrow morning."

His report at that time was clear and not very reassuring. There were
guards at or near the gateway. At night a patrol moved at times around
the outside. He saw a man enter the garden and remain within. He could
not say whether there was another one in the house. It was li