Page 81 (2/2)

on his plate, and he sat with a face suddenly grohite

For Leh it was no more than a matter of

ordinary comment: "So Mme Dauvray's jeere, after all, never stolen?"

Hanaud started

"You know that? How did you know it?"

"It was in this evening's paper I bought one on the way here

They were found under the floor of the bedroo out in the street

below them Lemerre was alarmed by the look upon his friend's

face

"Does it matter, Hanaud?" he asked, with some solicitude

"It matters--" and Hanaud rose up abruptly

The boy's voice sounded louder in the street below The words

became distinct to all upon that balcony

"The Aix o," Hanaud whispered hoarsely "Here are life and death

in the balance, as I believe, and there"--he pointed down to the

little group gathering about the newsboy under the trees--"there

is the command which way to tip the scales"

"It was not I who sent it," said Ricardo eagerly

He had no precise idea what Hanaud meant by his words; but he

realised that the sooner he exculpated hie the

better