, you stupid chatterbox!" cried Dagobert, as he pushed
Loony through the doorway.

Then the soldier bolted the door which led to the private staircase, and
going to that which communicated with the apartments of the two sisters,
he double-locked it. Having done this, he hastened to the alcove in which
stood the bed and taking down a pair of loaded pistols, he carefully
removed the percussion caps, and, unable to repress a deep sigh, restored
the weapons to the place in which he had found them. Then, as if on
second thoughts, he took down an Indian dagger with a very sharp blade,
and drawing it from its silver-gilt sheath, proceeded to break the point
of this murderous instrument, by twisting it beneath one of the iron
castors of the bed.

Dagobert then proceeded to unfasten the two doors, and, returning slowly
to the marble chimney-piece, he leaned against it with a gloomy and
pensive air. Crouching before the fire, Spoil-sport followed with an
attentive eye the least movement of his master. The good dog displayed a
rare and intelligent sagacity. The soldier, having drawn out his
handkerchief, let fall, without perceiving it, a paper containing a roll
of tobacco. Spoil-sport, who had all the qualities of a retriever of the
Rutland race, took the paper between his teeth, and, rising upon his
hind-legs, presented it respectfully to Dagobert. But the latter received
it mechanically, and appeared indifferent to the dexterity of his dog.
The grenadier's countenance revealed as much sorrow as anxiety. After
remaining for some minutes near the fire, with fixed and meditative look,
he began to walk about the room in great agitation, one of his hands
thrust into the bosom of his long blue frock-coat, which was buttoned up
to the chin, and the other into one of his hind-pockets.

From time to time he stopped abruptly, and seemed to make reply to his
own thoughts, or uttered an exclamation of doubt and uneasiness; then,
turning towards the trophy of arms, he shook his head mournfully, and
murmured, "No matter--this fear may be idle; but he has acted so
extraordinarily these two days, that it is at all events more prudent--"

He continued his walk, and said, after a new and prolonged silence: "Yes
he must tell me. It makes me too uneasy. And then the poor children--it
is enough to break one's heart."

And Dagobert hastily drew his moustache between his thumb and forefinger,
a nervous movement, which with him was an evident symp