"Choose one wisely, use it boldly, and the care of your fortunes will be in better hands than yours! A word to Basterga, on the other hand," Blondel continued slowly, and with a deadly look--he had not failed to notice that Louis winced at the name of Basterga--"and you will find yourself in the prison of the Two Hundred, destined to share the fate of the conspirators." The young man began to shake.

"Conspirators ?" he cried faintly.

The word brought vividly before him the horrors of the scaffold and the wheel.
"Oh, Lord! Oh, Lord! Why did I go to that house to lodge ?" "Do your duty," the Syndic said, "and you need fear nothing." "But if I cannot--do it ?" the youth stammered, his teeth chattering.

He to penetrate to Basterga's room unbidden! He to rob the formidable man and perhaps be caught in the act! He to deceive him and meet his eye at meals! Impossible! "But if I cannot--do it ?" he repeated, cowering.
"The State knows no such word!" the Syndic returned grimly.

"Cannot," he continued slowly, "means will not.