I may as well tell you, however, that the inquiry will be useless; for all M.de Guiche's attendants are gone, and he must have left with them." "Ascertain, nevertheless." Ten minutes had hardly passed, when the valet returned.

He beckoned his master mysteriously towards the servants' staircase, and showed him into a small room with a window looking out upon the garden.

"What is the matter ?" said the chevalier; "why so many precautions ?" "Look, monsieur," said the valet, "look yonder, under the walnut-tree." "Ah ?" said the chevalier.

"I see Manicamp there.

What is he waiting for ?" "You will see in a moment, monsieur, if you wait patiently.