M.de Breulh-Faverlay had also serious apprehensions for the safety of a man for whom he entertained so great a respect and regard.
"I would lay a heavy wager," said he, "that we have to do with some villainous blackmailers, and the difficulty of the business is, that we must do the work ourselves, for we dare not invite the aid of the police.

We have no proof to offer, and the police will not stir a foot on mere suppositions, and we should not earn the thanks of those we are desirous of assisting if we called the attention of the law to certain acts in their past lives; for who can say what the terrible secret is, that some vile wretch holds over the heads of M.and Madame de Mussidan?
And it is quite on the cards that the Count and the Countess might be compelled to join the blackmailers and oppose us.

We must act with the greatest prudence and caution.

Remember, that if you are out at night, you must avoid dark corners, for it would be the easiest thing in the world to put a knife into your back." The conclusion that was arrived at, at this interview, was that for the present Andre and De Breulh should cease to see each other so frequently.

They felt convinced that a watch had been set on them, and that their intimacy would certainly be notified to De Croisenois; and of course they had every desire to cause him to imagine that they were not acting in any way together.