'Simple enough; but the law has its delays, and if once the house is raided and Madame is not there we may whistle for our prize.' 'But the wheel?' put in Pantin. 'Will break Babette, who will not know. M. de Gomeron is no fool to trust her more than the length of his hand. No--I will leave nothing to chance. I propose then to seek out the house tomorrow, with Pantin's help, if he will give it.' 'Most willingly,' put in the notary. 'Thanks, my good friend. That we will find it I am certain, and then we can act. In the meantime I must ask you by all means in your power to get the search of the law after me delayed.' 'Then M. de Villeroi must hear some certain news to-morrow,' said Annette. 'There speaks a woman's wit,' exclaimed Belin; 'well, after all, perhaps your plan is the best.' 'And in this search of to-morrow I will share,' Palin suddenly exclaimed. But my heart was sore against him for what he had said. 'Pardon me, Maitre Palin; this is my right--I do this alone.' 'Your right,' he sneered. 'Yes, Maitre Palin, my right; I go to rescue my promised wife.' 'And besides, Monsieur le Chevalier will want no help, for I am here,' Jacques must needs thrust in; 'and when Monsieur is married,' he blundered on, 'we will rebuild Auriac, mount a brace of bombards on the keep, and erect a new gallows for ill-doers.' 'Silence, sir!' I thundered, half beside myself at the idiot's folly, for I saw the gleam in the eyes of Pantin and his wife, and despite the gravity of the occasion de Belin had hard to do to repress an open laugh. As for Palin, he said nothing for a moment, his features twitching nervously. At last he turned to me, 'It is what I have hoped and prayed for,' he said, holding out his hand; 'forgive me--I take back the words so hastily spoken--it is an old man who seeks your pardon.' I took his hand in all frankness, and he embraced me as a son, and then in a while Belin said-- 'We must be up and doing early to-morrow, and d'Auriac is in need of rest. He will share my bed here to-night; and harkee, Pantin! rouse us with the dawn.' We then parted, the Pantins showing the Huguenot to his chamber, and Jacques but waiting for a moment or so to help me off with my dripping things. My valises were still lying in the room, and I was thus enabled to get the change of apparel I so much needed.