"The danger—your father—your good husband. It would not be fair. I will not let you do what you have just said would be so dangerous." "Dangerous for you, but not for me. Who is going to suspect me? As to Jean Jacques, you need n’t be afraid of him. Thank God he is no meddler, and what I do is right in his eyes." "Dear child, he is a good husband; but—but just now you should not have anxiety or run any risks." Madelon laughed, and then grew suddenly grave. "Ah, you mean my baby. Why, you are just like Anne; but there, Ma’mselle, do you really think le bon Dieu would let my baby suffer because I tried to help poor little Ma’mselle here, who does n’t look much more than a baby herself?" Ange kissed her impulsively. "God bless you, my dear," she said. "You are a good woman, Madelon." "Well, then, it is settled. Here, take my cloak, Ma’mselle. What is your name? Ma’mselle Marguerite, then—no, not yours; it is much better that you should not come into the matter any more, Ma’mselle Ange, nor you, Madame. Ma’mselle Marguerite will put on my cloak and come along with me, and as quickly as possible, since Jean Jacques will be getting impatient." "Where is he, then?" asked Aline. "Oh, yonder behind the big cypress. I left him there to keep a look-out and tell us if any one came this way. He has probably gone to sleep, my poor Jean Jacques. It took me a quarter of an hour to wake him, the great sleepy head. He had no desire to come, not he, and will be only too thankful to be allowed to go back to bed again." "Now, Ma’mselle, are you ready?" They went off together into the shadows, and Ange and Aline took their way home to remove the smoke and grime, and to tell Mlle Marthe the events of the night. CHAPTER XXV ESCAPE OF TWO MADCAPS "Well, it is a mercy, only what’s to happen next?" said Mlle Marthe in the morning. "I don’t know," said Aline doubtfully. Marthe caught her sister’s hand. "Now, Ange, promise me to keep out of it, and you, Aline, I require you to do the same. Madelon is a most capable young woman, and if she and Jean Jacques can’t contrive something, yes, and run next to no risk in doing so, you may be sure that you won’t do any better. The sooner the girl is got out of the place the better, and while she ’s here, for Heaven’s sake act with prudence, and don’t go sniffing round the secret, like a dog with a hidden bone, until every one knows it’s there." "My dearest, you forget we can’t desert Madelon." "My dear Ange, you may be a good woman, but sometimes I think you ’re a bit of a fool. Don’t you see that Madelon is not in the least danger as long as you keep well away from her? Who does Mathieu suspect? Us. Well, and if you and Aline are always in Madelon’s pocket, do you think he will put it all down to an interest in that impending infant of hers? He ’s not such a fool,—and I wish to Heaven you weren’t."