Gabriel knew that his father had had a principal share in the detection of the defeated enterprise; and his previous persuasions were confirmed.
His sense of hearing grew sharper by continued effort, and at length he heard the first comer say distinctly, "If I were but sure that I had brought this fate upon George by introducing to him that accursed Dalibard; if my oath did but justify me, I would--" The concluding sentence was lost.

A few moments after, the two men rose, and from the familiar words that passed between them and the master of the cafe, who approached, himself, to receive the reckoning, the shrewd boy perceived that the place was no unaccustomed haunt.

He crept nearer and nearer; and as the landlord shook hands with his customer, he heard distinctly the former address him by the name of "Guillot." When the men withdrew, Gabriel followed them at a distance (taking care first to impress on his memory the name of the cafe, and the street in which it was placed) and, as he thought, unobserved; he was mistaken.

Suddenly, in one street more solitary than the rest, the man whom he was mainly bent on tracking turned round, advanced to Gabriel, who was on the other side of the street, and laid his hand upon him so abruptly that the boy was fairly taken by surprise.
"Who bade you follow us ?" said he, with so dark and fell an expression of countenance that even Gabriel's courage failed him.

"No evasion, no lies; speak out, and at once;" and the grasp tightened on the boy's throat.
Gabriel's readiness of resource and presence of mind did not long forsake him.
"Loose your hold, and I will tell you--you stifle me." The man slightly relaxed his grasp, and Gabriel said quickly "My mother perished on the guillotine in the Reign of Terror; I am for the Bourbons.