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sooner had the night come to its full darkness than some one rapped lightly at the side door of the old stone house. For a long time there was silence, then the rapping continue. Presently, the door was opened by the same dwarfish creature.

"Why do you keep me waiting? Notwithstanding this is my house, our presence here must be kept a secret. You keep me waiting, and everything will become public—what I am doing—that this is my house—everything! Then I will have to explain what happened last night."

"Oh! it is Monsieur," shrieked the creature, in a loud whisper.

"Of course, who else? Did not I give the proper raps? or are you losing your hearing? or can it be that you are unfaithful to me, and expect some one else?"

"No, no, I did not expect to see Monsieur alive again."