"Now go," he cried, "and take care not to touch my friends again, or beware----" and he shook a warning finger at them. The three gendarmes stepped back a couple of paces, saluted, and then turning round speedily became lost in the crowd. "Now step into my carriage," said the General as the footman opened the door for the two guests. As soon as they were seated the General ordered the coachman to turn back and drive at full speed. Riche and Marcel stared at the General, and then looked at each other for an explanation. "Whom have we the honour of addressing?" they both asked. "General Alfieri, Commander of the Grand Cordon of the Order of Savoy, very much at your service, gentlemen." "Accept our humble and most sincere thanks, General. We cannot thank you sufficiently both for your well-timed help, and for your extreme courtesy and attention." "I accept your thanks, and request you to give me the pleasure of your company to lunch. Where may you be staying?" "At the Hotel des Anglais, Beaulieu." "Coachman, drive to the Hotel des Anglais, these gentlemen may desire to alight in order to arrange their toilette." Riche and Marcel were more astonished than ever. "General Alfieri," they whispered to each other. "Who on earth could he be--some Italian General of high rank evidently. But what could he be doing in the territory of the Prince of Monte Carlo, which does not belong to Italy, and how could he possibly know us?" In a few minutes they arrived at the hotel, and all three descended. "Pray step in," said the General, "and I will follow directly." As Riche and Marcel entered the hall the General stepped up to the coachman, and handing him a bank note dismissed him. "Now, gentlemen, pray retire to your rooms, and when you are ready you will find me waiting for you in the hall." As soon as Riche and Marcel had retired to their rooms, the General entered his, and after completing his ablutions and exchanging his military clothes for a civilian costume he returned to the hall. A few minutes later Riche and Marcel came down the stairs together. "I say, professor, where have you sprung from?" said Marcel. "By the way, have you noticed a General in full uniform in the hotel?" "No, I've seen no military man at all here, but I happened to notice a General in full uniform drive up to the front and enter the hotel. He was a fine, venerable looking man with white hair and a greyish white moustache and beard." "That's the gentleman we want. You have described him exactly. But where has he gone to?" they enquired eagerly. "I can't imagine. I only know that I heard him order the coachman to drive away, as he would not be wanted again." "Surely, professor, you must be mistaken," replied