This was the question he asked himself. In great haste he went from one room to another, but all seemed to be occupied. It was only when he opened Ben's room that he ascertained that the one whom he would most regret to lose had decamped. Ben's bed, too, was but little disturbed. He had slept on the outside, if he had slept at all, but not within the bed, as was but too evident. "Has any one seen the boy?" demanded M. Bourdon of an outdoor servant who slept outside, but was already on duty. "Not I, _Monsieur le Docteur_." "Then he must have escaped with Francois! Put my horse in the carriage at once." Ten minutes later M. Bourdon was on his way to the cottage of Francois. Fifteen minutes before he arrived Francois had aroused our young hero. "It is time to get up, little monsieur," he said. "In half an hour the cars will start." Refreshed by his sound sleep, Ben sprang up at once--he did not need to dress--and was ready for the adventures of the day. "Where is the station, Francois?" he said. "I will go with monsieur." "No; if the doctor should come, delay him so that he cannot overtake me." "Perhaps it is best." Ben followed the directions of his humble friend, and soon brought up at the station. He purchased a third-class ticket for a place fifty miles away, and waited till it was time for the train to start. Meanwhile M. Bourdon had driven up to the cottage of Francois. The door was opened to him by Francois himself. "Where is that boy? Did he come away with you?" he asked, abruptly. "What boy?" asked Francois, vacantly. "The one who came a few days since. You know who I mean." Francois shrugged his shoulders. "Is he gone?" he asked. "Of course he is, fool." Just then the wife of Francois came to the door. Unfortunately her husband had not warned her, nor did she know that Ben had been an inmate of the asylum. "Where is the boy who came here last night with your husband?" asked M. Bourdon, abruptly. "Gone to the station," answered the woman, unsuspiciously. The doctor jumped into his carriage, and drove with speed to the station. CHAPTER XXX. M. BOURDON'S LITTLE SCHEME. Meanwhile Ben had entered a third-class carriage--it behooved him to be economical now--and sat down. He was congratulating himself on his fortunate escape, when M. Bourdon dashed up to the station. He entered the building, and was about passing to the platform, when he was stopped. "Your ticket, monsieur." Just then came the signal for the train to start. "Never mind the ticket!" shouted the doctor. "Don't stop me. One of my patients is running away." "I can't help it," said the guard, imperturbably. "Monsieur cannot pass without a ticket." "But I don't want to go anywhere," roared M. Bourdon. "I want to see the passengers."