do not know but he is a general now; he has the
manner and means of one!" said Hedwig, shuddering. "He knows all of
madame's peccadilloes--ay, all her crimes--"

"Crimes! be careful, girl!"

"Yes, crime, for she killed her little boy! Thank heaven, I had no hand
in that--she would not trust me there, and that shows I am not so very
bad a woman, don't it? She poisoned the little innocent as surely as we
stand here under the eye of God!"

"Go on; go on," said Clemenceau, hoarsely.

"The colonel threatened to tell you these and other things unless she
consented to sell him all your business secrets--and give him the model
gun that goes off without any powder and caps."

"Ah! she consented?" growled the inventor, grinding his teeth and his
eyes kindling.

"Nobody can hold out against the colonel. He soon made me play the spy
on everybody for his benefit. But this is not all!"

"Not all! what a sink of iniquity! Would she poison Mademoiselle
Rebecca, too?"

"I do not doubt it! The old witch her grandmother must have taught her
all the tricks of her trade. But I meant to say that she is setting her
cap at poor, dear, young M. Antonino--"

"I know that. Take your money! and live honestly."

"No, monsieur," she replied with some dignity. "And here is money that
the colonel gave me. It burns me! I beg you to give it toward some good
work, which you understand better than me. Will you not--and forgive
me?"

"Have you anything more to say?"

"I have been peeping and listening, but they are all very cunning. I
only gleaned that the colonel who has just gone out as if to the
station, should return later and hang around to have the rifle and some
papers delivered to him."

"By Antonino?"

"If your wife can make him a cat's-paw; if not, she is capable of doing
all herself--though, anyway, she is driven to it. But, monsieur, it
burdened me and if you had not called me, I was coming to tell you of
their schemes. I do not like your idea of killing people by hundreds,
but it may be good to honest folks, beset by savages and such like, and
it is not right of a servant to let a master be robbed by more than
bandits and brigands."

"I am grateful to you, girl." She seized his hand and covered it with
grateful kisses. "Keep your money and this I give you. Do good with your
own hand, then it will bless both giver and receiver, as is written."

"Monsieur, you are too good. Could I ask a favor--a proof that you do
not think