CHAPTER XXVII.
THE LAST LINK.
For some days M.Mascarin had not shown himself at the office, and Beaumarchef was terribly harassed with inquiries regarding his absent master.

Mascarin, on the day after the evening on which Tantaine had met Caroline Schimmel at the Grand Turk, was carefully shut up in his private room; his face and eyes were red and inflamed, and he occasionally sipped a glass of some cooling beverage which stood before him, and his compressed lips and corrugated brow showed how deeply he was meditating.

Suddenly the door opened, and Dr.Hortebise entered the room.
"Well!" exclaimed Mascarin, "have you seen the Mussidans, as I told you to do." "Certainly," answered Hortebise briskly; "I saw the Countess, and told her how pressing the holders of her letters were growing, and urged on her the necessity for immediate action.

She told me that both she and her husband had determined to yield, and that Sabine, though evidently broken-hearted, would not oppose the marriage." "Good," said Mascarin; "and now, if Croisenois only follows out the orders that I have given him, the marriage will take place without the knowledge of either De Breulh or Andre.

Then we need fear them no longer.