eman's plans are different from yours. If we did not take care,
some other poor devil might break his neck, but I have hit on a dodge to
avoid all this."

"I ain't curious, but I should like to hear it."

Tantaine smiled blandly.

"Listen! Do you see high up; that little shed built of planks? That is
used by the carvers and stone-cutters. Well, this little house, a couple
of hundred feet above us, has a kind of a window; well, if this window
and the planks below it were cut nearly through, any one leaning against
it would be very likely to fall into the street and perhaps to hurt
himself."

Chupin nodded.

"Now, suppose," went on Tantaine, "that the enemy of our old gentleman
was in that little shed, all at once he hears a woman shriek, 'Help! It
is I you love; help me!' what would this young fellow do? Why, he would
recognize the voice, rush to the window, lean out, and as the woodwork
and supports had been cut away, he would----Well, do you see now?"

Chupin hesitated for a moment.

"I don't say I won't," muttered he; "but, look here, will the old chap
pay down smart?"

"Yes, and besides, did I not tell you that he had given half down?"

The boy's eyes glistened as the old man unpinned the tattered lining
of his pocket, and holding the pin between his teeth, pulled out the
banknotes, each one for a thousand francs. Chupin's heart rose at the
sight of this wealth.

"Is one of those for me?" asked he. Tantaine held the note towards
the boy, who shuddered at the touch of the crisp paper and kissed the
precious object in a paroxysm of pleasure. He then started from his
seat, and regardless of the astonishment of the passers-by, executed a
wild dance of triumph.

All was soon settled. Toto was to creep into the unfinished building by
night, and not to leave it until he had completed his work. Tantaine,
who had a thought for everything, told the boy what sort of a saw to
employ, and gave him the address of a man who supplied the best class
instruments.

"You must remember, my dear lad," said he, "not to leave behind you any
traces of your work which may cause suspicion. One grain of sawdust
on the floor might spoil the whole game. Take a dark lantern with you,
grease your saw, and rasp out the tooth-nicks of the saw when you have
finished your work."

Toto listened to the old man in surprise; he had never thought that he
was of so practical a turn. He promised that he would be careful, and
imagining that h