You have only to take a packet of letters from his room--and you go there when you please--and he is yours! While you have the letters he dare not stir hand or foot, lest you bring him to the scaffold!" "Bring him to the scaffold ?" "Get the letters, give them to me, and I will answer for the rest." Louis' voice was low, but he shook with excitement.

"See!" he continued, his eyes at all times prominent, almost starting from his head, "it might be done this minute.

This minute!" "It might," the girl replied, watching him coldly.

"But it will not be done either this minute or at all unless you tell me what is in the letters, and how you come to know about them." Should he tell her?
He fancied that he had no choice.

"Messer Blondel the Syndic wants the letters," he answered sullenly.