The girl repeated in a low tone to her lover her recent talk with M. Martialle. Loupart nodded approvingly, but grumbled when he found the meeting was fixed for Saturday. "Hang the fellow! Must hustle with all the jobs on hand this week. Anyway, we won't let this one slip by. Plenty of shiners, eh, Josephine?" "You bet. He carries the stuff to his partners every fortnight." "That's first rate, but in the meantime there's something doing to-night. Here, kiddy, take a pen and scratch off a letter for me." The Square dictated in a low voice: "Sir, I am only a poor girl, but I've some feeling and honesty and I hate to see wrong done around me. Believe me, you'd better keep an eye open on some one pretty close to me. Maybe the police have already told you I am the mistress of Loupart, alias the Square. I'm not denying it; in fact, I'm proud of it. Well, I swear to you that this Loupart is going to try a dirty game." Josephine stopped writing. "Look here, what are you at?" "Scribble, and don't bother yourself. This doesn't concern you," replied Loupart drily. Josephine waited, docile and ready, but the Square's attention was now focussed upon Ernestine, her young man and the generous Sapper. "Yes," Ernestine was explaining to Mimile while the Sapper nodded approvingly, "the Beard is, as you might say, the head of the band of Cyphers, next to Loupart, of course. To belong to the Beard's gang you've got to have done up at least one guy. Then you get your Number 1. Your figure increases according to the number of deaders you have to your credit." "So then," inquired Mimile, with eager curiosity, "Riboneau, who has just been sentenced, is called number 'seven' because ..." "Because," added the Sapper in his serious voice, "because he has killed off seven." In a few curt questions the Square posted himself as to young Mimile, who had impressed him favourably. Josephine turned to Loupart: "What else am I to put in the letter? Why are you stopping?" For answer, the Square suddenly sprang to his feet, seized a half-empty bottle and flung it on the floor, where it broke. This act of violence sent the company scattering, and Loupart roared out: "It's on account of spies that I'm stopping! By God! When are we going to see their finish? And besides," he added, staring hard at Ernestine, "I've had enough of all this nonsense; better clear out of here or there'll be trouble." Cunningly, with bloodshot eyes, her fists clenched in fury, but humbly submissive, the girl made ready to comply. She knew the Square was master, and there was no use standing out against his will. The Sapper himself, growling, picked up his change, little disposed to have a row, and beckoning to his comrade, Nonet, effected a humble exit under cover of the girl Ernestine. Loupart's arm fell upon the shoulder of Mimile, who alone seemed to defy Josephine's formidable lover. "Hold on, young 'un," ordered Loupart. "You seem to have some nerve; better join us."