shman will
laugh at me when I ask him to sign.'

"'Courage!' I cried; and then a sudden thought coming into my head--'How
do we know that the English will have news of this? Perhaps they may
sign the treaty before they know of it.'

"Monsieur Otto sprang from the sofa and flung himself into my arms.

"'Alphonse,' he cried, 'you have saved me! Why should they know about
it? Our news has come from Toulon to Paris, and thence straight to
London. Theirs will come by sea through the Straits of Gibraltar. At
this moment it is unlikely that anyone in Paris knows of it, save only
Talleyrand and the First Consul. If we keep our secret, we may still
get our treaty signed.'

"Ah! monsieur, you can imagine the horrible uncertainty in which we
spent the day. Never, never shall I forget those slow hours during
which we sat together, starting at every distant shout, lest it should
be the first sign of the rejoicing which this news would cause in
London. Monsieur Otto passed from youth to age in a day. As for me, I
find it easier to go out and meet danger than to wait for it. I set
forth, therefore, towards evening. I wandered here, and wandered there.
I was in the fencing-rooms of Monsieur Angelo, and in the salon-de-boxe
of Monsieur Jackson, and in the club of Brooks, and in the lobby of the
Chamber of Deputies, but nowhere did I hear any news. Still, it was
possible that Milord Hawkesbury had received it himself just as we had.
He lived in Harley Street, and there it was that the treaty was to be
finally signed that night at eight. I entreated Monsieur Otto to drink
two glasses of Burgundy before he went, for I feared lest his haggard
face and trembling, hands should rouse suspicion in the English
minister.

"Well, we went round together in one of the Embassy's carriages about
half-past seven. Monsieur Otto went in alone; but presently, on excuse
of getting his portfolio, he came out again, with his cheeks flushed
with joy, to tell me that all was well.

"'He knows nothing,' he whispered. 'Ah, if the next half-hour were
over!'

"'Give me a sign when it is settled,' said I.

"'For what reason?'

"'Because until then no messenger shall interrupt you. I give you my
promise--I, Alphonse Lacour.'

"He clasped my hand in both of his.

"'I shall make an excuse to move one of the candles on to the table in
the window,' said he, and hurried into the house, whilst I was left
waiting beside the carriage.

"Well