The crisis was nearer than he had feared.

"But--she has done nothing!" he faltered.
"The tool with the hand that uses it! The idol and him who made it!" the Syndic cried, swaying himself to and fro.
Claude stared.

"But you know nothing!" he made shift to say after a pause.

"You have nothing against her, Messer Blondel.

He may be all you say, but she----" "I have ears!" The tone said more than the words, and Claude trembled.