"The plot is no mystery to us," said Raoul thoughtfully, "but it will be difficult to prove. We have not the slightest doubt that your cousin Henri fired the pistol." "Is he still in Paris?" I asked curiously. "Yes, and goes about quite openly with De Retz." "Why doesn't Conde arrest him?" asked Humphreys, who was not in the habit of beating about the bush. "Henri de Lalande has played his game far too cleverly," laughed Raoul, "you may depend that his share in the plot was known only to himself and De Retz." "But," said I, "the instructions for trapping me must have been given by him." "There you are wrong. The man Francois has been examined, and he knows nothing of your cousin. He was employed and paid by Peleton, who was wise enough to mention no names." "Peleton is an arrant coward, and a traitor to boot." "Just so," said Raoul, "and were he caught the whole secret would be laid bare. But he has vanished." "And it is my business to find him; I have promised Conde to do so, though without implicating him, and, besides, I want to clear my own name. Is he likely to have left Paris?" Raoul went to the door to make sure that no one was listening, and coming back, said quietly, "I will tell you my idea. Everything depends on Peleton, and De Retz is aware that he would betray his dearest friend for a hundred pistoles. Do you follow me?" "Perfectly," said I impatiently, "go on." "As soon as Conde got on the right track, Peleton disappeared and has not been seen since. Now if he were a free man, he would long before this have made a bargain with Conde in order to preserve his own skin." "Do you think----" I began in horror, but Raoul interrupted me, saying, "No, no, not as bad as that. I simply mean they are holding him a prisoner till the affair has blown over. De Retz is making a hard fight with Conde, and if the prince is beaten, why, then Peleton can talk as much as he likes. Of course for your own sake you must try to unearth him, and I will help in the search." "So will I," exclaimed Humphreys, "though I shall be of little use unless it comes to fighting." "There may be enough and to spare of that," said Raoul, "if Henri de Lalande is the fellow's gaoler. He may be a rogue, but he is a fearless one." Raoul's theory was, certainly, mere guess-work, but the more we discussed it the more likely it appeared to be correct. Peleton was a tricky fellow, and I understood my cousin too well to believe that he would allow him to be at large. "If Peleton's hiding-place is to be discovered we must watch Henri," I suggested at length, and the others agreed. "There is one thing I can do," remarked Raoul. "The Duke of Orleans has command of the gates, and I can request the officers on duty to watch for Peleton. I shall leave Conde's name out, and make it a personal favour." "Meanwhile Humphreys and I will take a walk in the neighbourhood of Notre Dame. We may possibly meet Henri on his way to visit the Abbe."