"Yes, I shall go." "Madame enjoys society since her marriage." "You think so, because I go out a great deal. I have not yet found--what I am seeking; but it must happen sooner or later." The portière of the dressing room was softly put aside, and a servant in rich livery showed his face, asking respectfully if he might enter. "Ah! you have returned at last, Joseph!" cried Valentine. "Have you had an accident, pray, that you have been away so long?--Come in, and speak." "Oh! yes, madame!" the valet replied, entering the room. "That is to say, I have not actually had an accident; but there was such a crowd in the street, so many people had collected to see him pass--they crowded and pushed----" "What was the reason of the crowd? what was there to see that was so interesting?" "Oh! can it be that madame does not know?--He is arrested, he is caught at last! It was high time, too!" "Who is arrested at last?" "The famous Italian brigand--the dreaded Giovanni!" "Giovanni is arrested, you say?" cried Miretta, who had suddenly turned deathly pale; and she seized the valet's arm and pressed it violently. "Giovanni taken! Are you sure of it?" "Certainly, mademoiselle; for they were taking him to the Petit Châtelet, and everybody crowded to see him." "Ah! unhappy wretch that I am!" And the girl, with a loud shriek, darted from the room, entirely forgetting her mistress and everything about her. In two or three seconds she had rushed through the salons, the vestibule, and the courtyard, and was hurrying along the street, roughly pushing aside everybody who came in her way. But, as the orange chevalier drew near the Petit Châtelet, where many malefactors were then confined, three young noblemen, having just crossed the Petit Pont, noticed the crowd, and, hearing it said that Giovanni had been arrested, forced their way through the spectators until they reached the Gascon, at whom everybody was pointing, saying: "That is the famous bandit!" Thereupon, to the vast amazement of the multitude, the three young gentlemen roared with laughter; then they seized the malefactor's hands and pressed them cordially, while he exclaimed: "Gad! this is very lucky! Sandis! here are some friends who know me, at last! It's Sénange and Monclair!--Can you believe, messieurs, that these people absolutely insist that I am the celebrated robber Giovanni?" "You, Giovanni? Poor Passedix!" "Poor! Deuce take it! he has not been poor since he inherited a fortune!" "Who is it that is fool enough to take you for the Italian brigand?" "That infamous little clothes dealer yonder! But, by Roland! I will have satisfaction for his insults!" "Pardieu!" said Sénange, "it happens that Captain Raynold is on duty at the Châtelet, and he knows our friend Passedix."