nd you know all the ways?"

"Perfectly."

"Silence, here we are; not a word before the vulgar. I do not know if
you feel as I do, but the morning air has given me an appetite."

The Chouette was awaiting them at the door.

"This way; this way," she said. "I have ordered our breakfast."

Rodolph wished the brigand to pass in first, for certain reasons; but
the Schoolmaster insisted on showing so much politeness, that Rodolph
entered before him. Before he sat down, the Schoolmaster tapped lightly
against each of the divisions of the wainscot, that he might ascertain
their thickness and power of transmitting sounds.

"We need not be afraid to speak out," said he; "the division is not
thin. We shall have our breakfast soon, and shall not be disturbed in
our conversation."

A waiter brought in the breakfast, and before he shut the door Rodolph
saw the charcoal-man, Murphy, seated with great composure at a table in
a room close at hand.

The room in which the scene took place that we are describing was long
and narrow, lighted by one window, which looked into the street, and was
opposite to the door. The Chouette turned her back to this window,
whilst the Schoolmaster was at one side of the table, and Rodolph on the
other.

When the servant left the room, the brigand got up, took his plate, and
seated himself beside Rodolph and between him and the door.

"We can talk better," he said, "and need not talk so loud."

"And then you can prevent me from going out," replied Rodolph, calmly.

The Schoolmaster gave a nod in the affirmative, and then, half drawing
out of the pocket of his frock coat a stiletto, round and as thick as a
goose's quill, with a handle of wood which disappeared in the grasp of
his hairy fingers, said:

"You see that?"

"I do."

"Advice to amateurs!" And bringing his shaggy brows together, by a frown
which made his wide and flat forehead closely resemble a tiger's, he
made a significant gesture.

"And you may believe me," added the Chouette, "I have made the tool
sharp."

Rodolph, with perfect coolness, put his hand under his blouse, and took
out a double-barrelled pistol, which he showed to the Schoolmaster, and
then put into his pocket.

"All right; and now we understand each other; but do not misunderstand
me, I am only alluding to an impossibility. If they try to arrest me,
and you have laid any trap for me, I will make 'cold meat' of you."

And he gave a fierce look at Rodolph.