Should any one besides you know who I am, I stand in danger of losing my fortune." "Ah, ha! lose your fortune!" exclaimed the professor, frowning so portentously as to unseat his spectacles.

"How does that happen, sir ?" Bressant looked considerably amused at the old gentleman's evident emotion; the more as he saw no occasion for it.

"I never had the curiosity to ask how," said he, pulling at his beard.

"I shall run no risks with my fortune.

I'm satisfied to know there might be danger; there's no difficulty in keeping silence about a name." Professor Valeyon rose from his chair and walked to the window.