"Follow you?" he asked. "As to that, certainly not!... No more walking for me in such weather. Wait for a sunny day, say I!... But whatever is the matter with you--eh?... What?... Why are you sticking out your jaws at me like this? Out with it, my lambs!... Where am I to follow you?... You won't say, Messieurs Beadle and Beard? "You won't say?..." Beard moved a step and got behind Jules unnoticed. He repeated in the same tone, harsh, threatening: "You've got to follow us, I tell you!" Instinctively Jules tried to turn round. The Beadle's strong grip kept him motionless. Then he understood. He was afraid. "What's come to you?" he cried in a trembling voice. The Beadle cut him short. "Enough! Will you follow us? Yes or no?" Jules was going to say "no!" but he had not the time! Quick as lightning the Beadle flung a long scarf round his neck, stuck his knee into his victim's back, and pulled! Jules uttered a faint groan; but, half stifled, nearly strangled, he had not the strength to attempt the slightest self-defence. Directly he was flung backwards on the ground, where he measured his length and lay nearly stunned, Beard jumped on him, knelt on his chest, and pinioned him. Jules lay motionless. The Beard now began tying up the legs of their victim. "Pass me a scarf!" "There it is, old 'un!" "Very good, I am going to apply a 'Be Discreet.'" The "Be Discreet" of the Beard was a gag, which he rolled round the servant's head in expert fashion. "Feet firm?" asked the Beard. "Oh, jolly fine!" said the Beadle. He turned his man over as though he were a bale of goods. Now he tied his victim's hands behind his back. "Is it far to go to the jaunting car?" "No--for two sous, that's it!" A motor-car was indeed coming slowly and noiselessly along rue Raffet: it was a sumptuous car! "And if it is not he?" "Stick him up against the bank ... dark as it is, there's every chance he won't be seen." Rapidly, the doughty two stuck Jules against the bank at the side of the road: the unfortunate creature had fainted. Then they took out their cigarettes, and going a few steps away, they pretended to be sheltering themselves in order to strike a light. They need not have taken this precaution. The car stopped in front of them. The familiar voice of Mimile was heard: "Got the rabbit then?" "Yes, old 'un!" "Pitch it into the balloon then!" "The balloon?" questioned the Beadle. "Whatever's that?" Emilet laughed. "At times, my brothers, your ignorance, mechanically speaking, is crass!... The balloon is the back part of my car, I'd have you know." The Beard sniggered. "Good!... Pick it up! Now, Beadle!" The two seized the body of Jules by shoulders and feet, and flung it brutally into the limousine. A rug, negligently flung over the body of the trussed Jules, hid him from observation. "Now we'll embark," announced Emilet. As a precaution, the young hooligan asked: "The bloke snores?"