"No, Monsieur. I am not that kind of Catholic. It is only heretics who break their promises, and take money for it--like Judas Iscariot." Joseph did not charge at this red rag, but looked so utterly depressed that Innocentina's eyes relented. "Very well," I said. "You deserve praise for your loyalty. I ought not to have tried to corrupt it. But, you know, I shall find out in the town, or at the railway station." Innocentina smiled. "I do not think so, Monsieur." "We shall see," I retorted. "Joseph, where is the railway station?" Joseph pointed, accompanying his gesture with directions. Then he offered to be my guide, but I refused his services and left him with Innocentina, having bidden him call at my room in the hotel for instructions later. But the prophecy of Innocentina the Seeress was fulfilled. I could learn nothing of the Boy or his movements, at the _gare_ of Chambéry. Several trains had gone out, bound for several destinations in different directions, during the past three hours, and no one answering the description I gave of the Boy had been seen to leave. Sadder, but no wiser, I returned to the Hôtel de France, and asked if a youth of seventeen, "with large blue eyes, chestnut hair which curled, a complexion tanned brown, a panama hat, and a suit of navy-blue serge knickerbockers," had lunched there. The answer was no. Such a yoking gentleman had not come to the hotel, nor had he been noticed in the town, either with or without a young woman and a couple of donkeys. I had no more than finished my questionings and gone up to my room, when Joseph arrived--a wistful, expectant Joseph, with a deep light of excitement burning in his eyes. "Any news?" I asked. "No, Monsieur, except that in an hour Innocentina starts to walk on to Les Echelles with her _ânes_." "She is energetic." "The girl knows not what is the fatigue. Besides, each day less on the road means so many more francs added to the _dot_." "Innocentina seems very keen upon increasing that _dot_. Has she anyone in view to share it with her?" "She has not confided that to me, Monsieur." "I suppose he would have to be a good Catholic?" "Of that I am not so sure. I do not think she would object to a good Protestant, if he would allow the children to be brought up in her faith." "The lady is brave. She takes time by the forelock." "It is the wise way, Monsieur." "Well, whoever he may be, I am sure _you_ do not envy the future _mari_, _dot_ or no _dot_. Your opinion of Innocentina----" "Ah, it is changed, Monsieur, completely changed, I confess." "Then, after all, it is Innocentina who has converted you." Joseph bent his head to hide a flush. "Perhaps, Monsieur, if you put it in that way. Yet it was not of myself nor of Innocentina I came to talk, but of the plans of Monsieur." "Plans? I've no plans," I answered dejectedly. "Will Monsieur wish to proceed to-morrow morning as usual?" "Proceed where?" I gloomily capped his question with another.