“If I am to do the thing,” I replied hotly, “I must know everything.” “Well, then, the Duc de Rivau-Huet has threatened me with imprisonment if he catches me in his hôtel again.” “And you wish me to take that risk?” The Frenchman shrugged his shoulders. “I am to do this at the peril of my life?” “It seems to me,” said the Marquis equably, “that your life is forfeit if you don’t do it, and——” “Enough!” I answered. “I am in your power. When I made the serious mistake of taking you for a gentleman I began my ruin. I’m sorry I didn’t kill you in England. I suppose there’s no help for it. I must do the work. When do you wish this adventure undertaken?” “Tonight. If you will come to my rooms, I will fit you out, give you the plan of the hôtel and make all other arrangements.” “And those papers?” “They shall be returned to you when you place what you secure from the room in my hands.” “What assurance have I as to that?” “The word of a gentleman.” “In your case I prefer something else.” The Marquis flushed angrily. Why he controlled himself I do not know, unless it was because he was so desperately anxious to carry out his plan and I was his only instrument. “What do you propose?” he asked. “To go before a notary and draw up an agreement, leaving the papers in his hands, including the ring and the coin, and a signed statement, acquitting me of complication in the robbery. These papers he is to give to me in the morning, if I succeed. Furthermore, I won’t go into the matter without the assistance of an old sailor with whom I cruised.” “Take as many assistants as you please, Monsieur,” said the Marquis; “and now we will go to my apartments. Will you honor me?” He rose and offered me his arm. “I have to do your dirty work,” I replied, “and that obliges me to walk by your side, I suppose, but it doesn’t compel me to take your arm.” My soul revolted against carrying out my part of the plot, even though by so doing I was obliging a lady. True, she might be—and if his words were true, she was—in love with du Trémigon, but I was sure she could not know him as I knew him. Besides, what were the love affairs of the Marquis and his cousin to me? I had no personal interest in either of them. All I had to do was to fetch a slipper or some personal belonging from her chamber, as she herself desired. The long and short of it was that I was resolved to do it. I had to! II THE SLIPPER IS FOUND