As he did so, he observed a man at the angle of the street, whose eyes followed Dalibard's carriage with an expression of unmistakable hate and revenge; but scarcely had he marked the countenance, before the man, looking hurriedly round, darted away, and was lost amongst the crowd.
Now, that countenance was not quite unfamiliar to Gabriel.

He had seen it before, as he saw it now,--hastily, and, as it were, by fearful snatches.

Once he had marked, on returning home at twilight, a figure lurking by the house; and something, in the quickness with which it turned from his gaze, joined to his knowledge of Dalibard's apprehensions, made him mention the circumstance to his father when he entered.

Dalibard bade him hasten with a note, written hurriedly, to an agent of the police, whom he kept lodged near at hand.

The man was still on the threshold when the boy went out on this errand, and he caught a glimpse of his face; but before the police-agent reached the spot, the ill-omened apparition had vanished.