nt
when Jean Jacques had left him at the flume with the words, 'Moi, je
suis philosophe!' And at the last he said:

"I give you my word--my oath on this"--he laid his hand on the Testament
on the table--"that beyond what you saw, and what Jean Jacques saw,
there has been nothing." He held up a hand as though taking an oath.

"Name of God, is it not enough what there has been?" whispered the
little Clerk.

"Oh, as you think, and as you say! It is quite enough for me after
to-day. I'm a teetotaller, but I'm not so fond of water as to want to
take my eternal bath in it." He shuddered slightly. "Bien sur, I've had
my fill of the Manor Cartier for one day, my Clerk of the Court."

"Bien sur, it was enough to set you thinking, monsieur," was the dry
comment of M. Fille, who was now recovering his composure.

At that moment there came a knock at the door, and another followed
quickly; then there entered without waiting for a reply--Carmen
Barbille.

CHAPTER XII. THE MASTER-CARPENTER HAS A PROBLEM

The Clerk of the Court came to his feet with a startled "Merci!" and the
master-carpenter fell back with a smothered exclamation. Both men stared
confusedly at the woman as she shut the door slowly and, as it might
seem, carefully, before she faced them.

"Here I am, George," she said, her face alive with vital adventure.

His face was instantly swept by a storm of feeling for her, his nature
responded to the sound of her voice and the passion of her face.

"Carmen--ah!" he said, and took a step forward, then stopped. The hoarse
feeling in his voice made her eyes flash gratitude and triumph, and she
waited for him to take her in his arms; but she suddenly remembered M.
Fille. She turned to him.

"I am sorry to intrude, m'sieu'," she said. "I beg your pardon. They
told me at the office of avocat Prideaux that M'sieu' Masson was here.
So I came; but be sure I would not interrupt you if there was not
cause."

M. Fille came forward and took her hand respectfully. "Madame, it is
the first time you have honoured me here. I am very glad to receive you.
Monsieur and Mademoiselle Zoe, they are with you? They will also come in
perhaps?"

M. Fille was courteous and kind, yet he felt that a duty was devolving
on him, imposed by his superior officer, Judge Carcasson, and by his
own conscience, and with courage he faced the field of trouble which his
simple question opened up. George Masson had but now said there had been
no