"Worshipful gentlemen, I could not know.

I could not know what it was you wanted." "I told you to bring the contents of the box." "Letters, ay! Letters, worthy sir, but not----" "Silence, and go into that room!" Blondel pointed with a shaking finger to a small inner serving-room at the end of the parlour.

"Go!" he repeated peremptorily, "and stay there until I come to you." Then, but not until the lad had taken his tear-bedabbled face into the closet and had closed the door behind him, the Syndic turned to the three.

"I ask your pardon," he said, making no attempt to disguise the agitation which still moved him.

"But it was enough, it was more than enough, to try me." He paused and wiped his brow, on which the sweat stood in beads.