"We must make the attack at once," said he; "but make no mistake; the projects you propose are most dangerous, and a single error upon our side would entail destruction; but we must take some risk.

The odds are against us, but still we may win.

Under these circumstances, and as necessity cheers us on, I say, _Forward!_" As he said this, he rose to his feet, and extending his hand toward his friend, exclaimed, "I am entirely at your disposal." Mascarin seemed relieved by the doctor's decision, for he was in that frame of mind when, however self-reliant a man may be, he has a disinclination to be left alone, and the aid of a stout ally is of the utmost service.
"Have you considered every point carefully ?" asked he.

"You know that we can only act at present upon one of the undertakings, and that is the one of which the Marquis de Croisenois----" "I know that." "With reference to the affair of the Duke de Champdoce, I have still to gather together certain things necessary for the ultimate success of the scheme.

There is a mystery in the lives of the Duke and Duchess,--of this there is no doubt,--but what is this secret?
I would lay my life that I have hit upon the correct solution; but I want no suspicions, no probabilities; I want absolute certainties.