"Do you mean it?" said the advocate. "Ah! I see you propose to arrest my guests?" "Not your guests, either. They will remain as free as yourself." "How is that?" asked Des Avenelles, in amazement. "Just listen to me a moment," replied Monsieur de Braguelonne, in an authoritative tone, "and pay good heed to my words. You will return at once to your own house, lest a too long absence should arouse suspicion. You will say not a word more to your guests, either as to your own fears or their secrets. You will act, and leave them to act, as if you had not been in this room to-day. Do you understand me? Hinder nothing, and express surprise at nothing. Let things take their course." "That is easily done," said Des Avenelles. "However," added Monsieur de Braguelonne, "if we need any information, we will either send to you for it or summon you hither, and you will hold yourself always in readiness to serve us in either way. If a descent upon your house is judged necessary, you will lend a hand in making it effective." "Since I have done so much merely to make a beginning, I will go through with it," said Des Avenelles, with a sigh. "Very well. One word in conclusion. If matters progress in a way to prove that you have obeyed these very simple instructions, you shall have your pardon; but if we have reason to suspect that you have been in the least degree indiscreet, you will be the first to be punished, and will suffer worse than all the others." "You shall be burned alive, by our Lady!" chimed in Démocharès, in his deep and gloomy voice. "However--" began the trembling advocate. "That is sufficient," said De Braguelonne. "You have heard; see that you remember. _Au revoir_." He made an imperious motion with his hand. The too prudent advocate left the room, relieved and anxious at the same time. After his departure, for a moment nothing was said by the two others. "You wished it so, and I yielded," said the lieutenant, finally; "but I confess that I have serious doubts as to the wisdom of that mode of procedure." "No, everything is as well as can be," replied Démocharès. "This business must be allowed to take its own course, and with that in view, the important point was not to give the alarm to the conspirators. Let them think themselves sure of their secret, and go ahead in their false security. They fancy that they are marching in darkness, while we are following all their movements in the broad daylight. It is superb! Such another occasion to strike a deadly blow at the root of the heresy will not present itself in twenty years. Besides, I know the ideas of his Eminence the Cardinal de Lorraine upon this matter." "Better than I do, to be sure," said De Braguelonne. "What are we to do now?"