At that moment Pillot caught sight of me; he became more nervous than before, and to my astonishment instantly began edging back into the crowd till he was lost to view. Now this curious behaviour set me thinking. Why should Pillot endeavour to get out of my way? Was he afraid that I should hand him over to Conde? Certainly he had been mixed up in the plot, but so had Pierre and Francois, and the prince had not thought it worth while to imprison either of them. "There is some mystery about this which I must look into!" I muttered. "Pillot is not the man to slink away without reason." For the time, however, I could do nothing, but as soon as the King returned to the Palais Royal I began an eager but unavailing search for the dwarf. He had disappeared completely, and there was no trace of him anywhere. In the evening Raoul and John Humphreys met at my rooms and I informed them of my discovery. The Englishman thought little of it, saying Pillot was likely to keep out of my way, but Raoul, like myself, fancied he had some reason for his strange behaviour. "The fellow isn't afraid for himself," he declared. "He knows Conde will not touch him, and besides, he is a plucky rascal. Depend on it, there is something beneath this business, and I should guess it has to do with Henri de Lalande." "But my cousin is dead and buried!" I objected. "Chut! You have no proof of it. He may be in hiding for what we know, and waiting his opportunity. According to all accounts, he will soon have little to fear from Conde." "The prince is lost," exclaimed Humphreys. "Did you notice he stayed away to-day? It is rumoured in the palace that the Queen is furious, and that there is to be no more giving quarter. Conde will be an outlaw before long." "And it is my belief," remarked Raoul, "that when Conde goes, Henri will reappear. Still, if you wish, Albert, we will help you to find Pillot." "The worst of it is I have not the faintest idea where to look." "We can try the house in the Rue de Roi." "The walk will do us good," said Humphreys, "and I am off duty till midnight;" so, putting on our hats, we went into the street. Paris was holding high holiday that evening. The buildings were decorated with flags and streamers; bonfires cast a lurid light on the animated scene; crowds of people went to and fro, laughing merrily and cheering the nobles and ladies who rode by in their gorgeous carriages. The spell of the morning was on them all; and though many realised that the troubles would soon break out more fiercely than ever, every one seemed bent on making the most of the brief truce. "You Parisians are a remarkable set!" exclaimed Humphreys as we walked along; "I believe you would dance on the edge of a mine." "Till the explosion occurred!" laughed Raoul. "Did you notice the folks in that carriage, Albert? One was your friend Lautrec; he still follows Conde's fortunes. Ah! there goes Marshal Turenne!"