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188 "He would be if he had his deserts."

"But what does it all mean?"

"Such a cauldron of troubles as the devil loves to set a-bubbling, mademoiselle. M. Gerard de Cobalt has been found to be not Gerard de Cobalt and the Governor has clapped him into one of his Castle cells; this cur here and his mangy master are at the bottom of it—I have just laid hands on the written proofs of their part. I have had a busy afternoon and am in search of Mademoiselle de Malincourt, and must find her at once. I have no time to fill in the details for you; so smother your curiosity and just say if you will help me?"

"You have a commanding way with you, monsieur, for a serving man," cried Lucette with a smile.

"I am no serving man, but just a soldier; and by your leave have no time for badinage. There is much to be done, and talk must wait on action. I want irons and a guard for this carrion here. Can they be got in the maison? If not, I must take the knife to him, much as I dislike it. But his babbling tongue must be silenced, or we shall all be in peril."

"You would not kill him in cold blood?" cried Lucette, with a look of horror.

"I would kill any one and any thing that stood between me and my master's safety."

"I can get what you need," she said, and hurried away, to return quickly with a couple of men with manacles. Pascal gave them his orders, and placing the gyves on Dauban's wrists—none too gently, for the spy was hated by every one—they carried him away.

"Now, mademoiselle, you must find a place of security for these," said Pascal, giving Lucette the papers. "De Proballe may come in search of his precious spy, and he must not find these, nor must any one know aught of the spy's whereabouts. If my advice be followed I would clap the master in the next cellar to this man; but that