"Thank ye, master. They told me the left-hand door; but I've mistook." Rodolph did not recollect the name of the diamond-matcher, which Morel the lapidary had only mentioned once or twice, and thus had no motive for interesting himself in the female to whom Barbillon came with his message; but yet, although ignorant of the ruffian's crimes, his face was so decidedly repulsive that he remained at the threshold of the door, curious to see the person to whom Barbillon brought the letter. Barbillon had scarcely knocked at the door opposite to Germain's, than it opened, and the jewel-matcher, a stout woman of about fifty, appeared with a candle in her hand. "Ma'am Mathieu?" inquired Barbillon. "That's me, my man." "Here's a letter, and I waits for an answer." And Barbillon made a step forward to enter the doorway, but the woman made him a sign to remain where he was, and unsealed the letter, which she read by the light of the candle she held, and then replied with an air of satisfaction: "Say it's all right, my man, and I will bring what is required. I will be there at the same hour as usual. My respects to the lady." "Yes, missus. Please to remember the porter!" "Oh, you must ask them as sent you; they are richer than I am." And she shut the door. Rodolph returned to Germain's room, when he saw Barbillon run quickly down the staircase. The ruffian found on the boulevard a man of low-lived, brutal appearance, waiting for him in front of a shop. Although the passers-by could hear (it is true they could not comprehend), Barbillon appeared so delighted that he could not help saying to his companion: "Come and 'lush a drain of red tape,' Nicholas; the old mot swallows the bait, hook and all. She'll show at the Chouette's. Old Mother Martial will lend a hand to peel her of the swag, and a'terwards we can box the 'cold meat' in your 'barkey.'"[2] [2] "Come and let's have some brandy together, Nicholas. The old woman falls easily into the snare. She will come to the Chouette's; Mother Martial will help us to take her jewels from her forcibly, and then we can remove the dead body away in your boat." "Let's mizzle,[3] then; for I must get back to Asnieres early, or else my brother Martial will smell summut." [3] "Let's be quick, then." And the two robbers, after having exchanged these words in their own slang, went towards the Rue St. Denis. * * * * * Some minutes afterwards Rigolette and Rodolph left Germain's, got into the hackney-coach, and reached the Rue du Temple. The coach stopped. At the moment when the door opened, Rodolph recognised by the light of the dram-shop lamps his faithful Murphy, who was waiting for him at the door of the entrance. The squire's presence always announced some serious and sudden event, for it was he alone who knew at all times where to find the prince.