"What? Any news?" asked the doctor, alarmed at seeing such a state of agitation in a man whose coolness he had had occasion to observe. "No," said Lupin. "No news. And here?" "None here, either. We have just left M. Darcieux. He has had an excellent day and he ate his dinner with a good appetite. As for Jeanne, you can see for yourself, she has all her pretty colour back again." "Then she must go." "Go? But it's out of the question!" protested the girl. "You must go, you must!" cried Lupin, with real violence, stamping his foot on the floor. He at once mastered himself, spoke a few words of apology and then, for three or four minutes, preserved a complete silence, which the doctor and Jeanne were careful not to disturb. At last, he said to the young girl: "You shall go to-morrow morning, mademoiselle. It will be only for one or two weeks. I will take you to your friend at Versailles, the one to whom you were writing. I entreat you to get everything ready to-night ... without concealment of any kind. Let the servants know that you are going.... On the other hand, the doctor will be good enough to tell M. Darcieux and give him to understand, with every possible precaution, that this journey is essential to your safety. Besides, he can join you as soon as his strength permits.... That's settled, is it not?" "Yes," she said, absolutely dominated by Lupin's gentle and imperious voice. "In that case," he said, "be as quick as you can ... and do not stir from your room...." "But," said the girl, with a shudder, "am I to stay alone to-night?" "Fear nothing. Should there be the least danger, the doctor and I will come back. Do not open your door unless you hear three very light taps." Jeanne at once rang for her maid. The doctor went to M. Darcieux, while Lupin had some supper brought to him in the little dining-room. "That's done," said the doctor, returning to him in twenty minutes' time. "M. Darcieux did not raise any great difficulty. As a matter of fact, he himself thinks it just as well that we should send Jeanne away." They then went downstairs together and left the house. On reaching the lodge, Lupin called the keeper. "You can shut the gate, my man. If M. Darcieux should want us, send for us at once." The clock of Maupertuis church struck ten. The sky was overcast with black clouds, through which the moon broke at moments. The two men walked on for sixty or seventy yards. They were nearing the village, when Lupin gripped his companion by the arm: "Stop!" "What on earth's the matter?" exclaimed the doctor. "The matter is this," Lupin jerked out, "that, if my calculations turn out right, if I have not misjudged the business from start to finish, Mlle. Darcieux will be murdered before the night is out." "Eh? What's that?" gasped the doctor, in dismay. "But then why did we go?"