Julie hesitated.

"It concerns the best interests of your father," said the messenger.
The young girl hastily took the letter from him.

She opened it quickly and read:-- "Go this moment to the Allees de Meillan, enter the house No.

15, ask the porter for the key of the room on the fifth floor, enter the apartment, take from the corner of the mantelpiece a purse netted in red silk, and give it to your father.

It is important that he should receive it before eleven o'clock.