It was necessary, however, to provide for the consequences of this disappearance, and the gossip which would inevitably result in connection with it. Well, after a good deal of hesitation, I confided the whole matter to my uncle. "You old stupid!" said he to me, "why, I have known all about your little love-knot for the last six months!" "What! do you mean to say you knew that Kondje-Gul?--" "Lord bless you! Don't you suppose that I heard enough from Mohammed to make me keep my eyes open?" After I had come to a complete understanding with my uncle, I made my own arrangements. I was expected to dinner at Kondje's that day. I found her quite sad; and on the pretext of giving her some distraction, I ordered the carriage at about half-past eight, as if for a drive to the Bois. We started off. As soon as we were alone, she said to me: "Good gracious, Andre! whatever has been passing between you and my mother? I am worried to death. She has been talking again to me about my departure with her, and Fanny believes that she is making her preparations for it already.--She is going to carry me away." "All right, never mind her!" I answered with a laugh; "you're out of danger already." "How so?" "I'm taking you away! You won't go back to the house, for we are off to Fontainebleau, where we shall both of us remain in concealment, while watching events." Need I describe to you her joy? In the Champs Elysees we got out, as if in order to walk, and I sent back the carriage. An hour after this, a cab set us down at the railway station! We spent a delightful week in the forest, playing truant. Fanny, who is a reliable girl, has joined us here. We really had a narrow escape; for it seems that Madame Murrah had, the very day we made our flight, got everything planned for leaving the day after. When she found in the morning that Kondje-Gul was gone, she nearly had a fit. Kiusko came to the house, being sent for at once; all of which pretty clearly indicates an understanding between them. The Circassian of course rushed after me to the Rue de Varennes, noisily demanding her daughter. So my aunt got to know all about it! My uncle, whom I had taken into my confidence, put them at once completely off the scent, by replying that I had started for Spain.