"The hour has barely struck, I believe ?" "We were of opinion," Fabri answered, with a dry cough, "that minutes were of value." "Ah!" "That not even one must be lost, Messer Blondel!" "In doing ?" Blondel asked in a negligent tone, well calculated to annoy those who were eager in the matter.

"In doing what, if I may ask ?" "In doing, Messer Syndic," Petitot answered sharply, "that which should have been done a week ago; and better still a fortnight ago.

In issuing a warrant for the arrest of the person whose name has been several times in question here." "Messer Basterga ?" "The same." "You may save yourselves the trouble," the Syndic replied, with a little contempt.

"The warrant has been issued.

It was issued yesterday, and would have been executed in the afternoon, if he had not got wind of it, and left the town.