"Not so good, young man; for the Chourineur, having yesterday morning met the Chouette, near St. Ouen, did not leave her for one moment, when the tall gentleman in mourning came up, so that he could not approach and converse with her. You, then, ought to put us in the way of regaining our two thousand francs."
"Nothing easier; but let us "hark back." I had proposed a glorious job to the Chourineur, which he at first accepted, but afterwards refused to go on with."
"He always had very peculiar ideas."
"But whilst he refused he observed to me--"
"He made you observe--"
"Oh, _diable_! You are very grand with your grammar."
"It is my profession, as a schoolmaster."
"He made me, then, observe, that if he would not go on this "lay," he did not desire to discourage any other person, and that you would willingly lend a hand in the affair."
"May I, without impertinence, ask why you appointed a meeting with the Chourineur at St. Ouen yesterday, which gave him the advantage of meeting the Chouette? He was too much puzzled at my question to give me a clear answer."
Rodolph bit his lips imperceptibly, and replied, shrugging his shoulders:
"Very likely; for I only told him half my plan, you must know, not knowing if he had made up his mind."
"That was very proper."
"The more so as I had two strings to my bow."
"You are a careful man. You met the Chourineur, then, at St. Ouen, for--"
Rodolph, after a moment"s hesitation, had the good luck to think of a story which would account for the want of address which the Chourineur had displayed, and said:
"Why, this it is. The attempt I propose is a famous one, because the person in question is in the country; all my fear was that he should return to Paris. To make sure, I went to Pierrefitte, where his country-house is situated, and there I learned that he would not be back again until the day after to-morrow."
"Well, but to return to my question; why did you appoint to meet the Chourineur at St. Ouen?"
"Why, you are not so bright as I took you for. How far is it from Pierrefitte to St. Ouen?"
"About a league."
"And from St. Ouen to Paris?"
"As much."
"Well, if I had not found any one at Pierrefitte,--that is, if there had been an empty house there,--why, there also would have been a good job; not so good as in Paris, but still well worth having. I went back to the Chourineur, who was waiting for me at St. Ouen. We should have returned then to Pierrefitte, by a cross-path which I know, and--"
"I understand. If, on the contrary, the job was to be done in Paris?"
"We should have gained the Barrier de l"etoile by the road of the Rivolte, and thence to the Allee des Veuves--"
"Is but a step; that is plain enough. At St. Ouen you were well placed for either operation,--that was clear; and now I can understand why the Chourineur was at St. Ouen. So the house in the Allee des Veuves will be uninhabited until the day after to-morrow?"
"Uninhabited, except the porter."
"I see. And is it a profitable job?"
"Sixty thousand francs in gold in the proprietor"s cabinet."
"And you know all the ways?"
"Perfectly."
"Silence, here we are; not a word before the vulgar. I do not know if you feel as I do, but the morning air has given me an appet.i.te."
The Chouette was awaiting them at the door.
"This way; this way," she said. "I have ordered our breakfast."
Rodolph wished the brigand to pa.s.s in first, for certain reasons; but the Schoolmaster insisted on showing so much politeness, that Rodolph entered before him. Before he sat down, the Schoolmaster tapped lightly against each of the divisions of the wainscot, that he might ascertain their thickness and power of transmitting sounds.
"We need not be afraid to speak out," said he; "the division is not thin. We shall have our breakfast soon, and shall not be disturbed in our conversation."
A waiter brought in the breakfast, and before he shut the door Rodolph saw the charcoal-man, Murphy, seated with great composure at a table in a room close at hand.
The room in which the scene took place that we are describing was long and narrow, lighted by one window, which looked into the street, and was opposite to the door. The Chouette turned her back to this window, whilst the Schoolmaster was at one side of the table, and Rodolph on the other.
When the servant left the room, the brigand got up, took his plate, and seated himself beside Rodolph and between him and the door.
"We can talk better," he said, "and need not talk so loud."
"And then you can prevent me from going out," replied Rodolph, calmly.
The Schoolmaster gave a nod in the affirmative, and then, half drawing out of the pocket of his frock coat a stiletto, round and as thick as a goose"s quill, with a handle of wood which disappeared in the grasp of his hairy fingers, said:
"You see that?"
"I do."
"Advice to amateurs!" And bringing his s.h.a.ggy brows together, by a frown which made his wide and flat forehead closely resemble a tiger"s, he made a significant gesture.
"And you may believe me," added the Chouette, "I have made the tool sharp."
Rodolph, with perfect coolness, put his hand under his blouse, and took out a double-barrelled pistol, which he showed to the Schoolmaster, and then put into his pocket.
"All right; and now we understand each other; but do not misunderstand me, I am only alluding to an impossibility. If they try to arrest me, and you have laid any trap for me, I will make "cold meat" of you."
And he gave a fierce look at Rodolph.
"And I will spring upon him and help you, _fourline_," cried the Chouette.
Rodolph made no reply, but shrugged his shoulders, and, pouring out a gla.s.s of wine, tossed it off. His coolness deceived the Schoolmaster.