"But how did you manage to gain admittance to this house ?" "It was quite easy; the birds had flown," he answered.

"Has the suspicion not struck you that they were going to clear out and leave you here to starve ?" "The brutes," I answered.

"But I'll be even with their leader yet.

And now let us get away from here as quickly as possible.

Have you any idea where our man has gone ?" "To Naples," Lepallard replied.