Part 10 (2/2)

”In ed the inkhorn and a sheet of paper towards him, took up a pen, and wrote a feords rapidly in a loose, scrawly hand He strewed sand over the writing, then handed it across the table to de Batz

”Will that do?” he asked briefly

The other was reading the note through carefully

”I see you only grant ht,” he remarked casually

”For that amount of money it is sufficient If you want an extension you must pay more”

”So be it,” assented de Batz coolly, as he folded the paper across

”On the whole a fortnight's immunity in France these days is quite a pleasant respite And I prefer to keep in touch with you, friend Heron

I'll call on you again this day fortnight”

He took out a letter-case from his pocket Out of this he drew a packet of bank-notes, which he laid on the table in front of Heron, then he placed the receipt carefully into the letter-case, and this back into his pocket

Heron in the ht of ferocity had entirely gone from his eyes; momentarily the whole expression of the face was one of satisfied greed

”Well!” he said at last when he had assured himself that the number of notes was quite correct, and he had transferred the bundle of crisp papers into an inner pocket of his coat--”well, what about your friend?”

”I knew hio,” rejoined de Batz coolly; ”he is a kinsman of citizen St Just I know that he is one of the confederates of the Scarlet Pie?”

”That is for you to find out I saw hireen-rooe I heard him ask for leave to call on her to-es, of course!”

He watched Heron while the latter scribbled a feords on a scrap of paper, then he quietly rose to go He took up his cloak and once again wrapped it round his shoulders There was nothing o

The leave-taking between the two men was neither cordial nor more than barely courteous De Batz nodded to Heron, who escorted hi, and there called loudly to a soldier as doing sentinel at the further end of the corridor

”Show this citizen the way to the guichet,” he said curtly ”Good-night, citizen,” he added finally, nodding to de Batz

Ten minutes later the Gascon once reat outer walls of the prison and the silent little church and convent of St Elizabeth He looked up to where in the central tower a shted from within showed the place where the last of the Bourbons was being taught to desecrate the traditions of his race, at the bidding of a mender of shoes--a naval officer cashi+ered for misconduct and fraud

Such is human nature in its self-satisfied co the vile part which he himself had played in the last quarter of an hour of his intervieith the Coent, found it in hi, and even of the cobbler Sihteous sense of duty perfor of the shoulders, he dismissed Heron from his mind

”That meddlesome Scarlet Pimpernel will find his hands over-full to-morrow, and mayhap will not interfere in my affairs for some time to come,” he mused; ”meseems that that will be the first tiue has come within the clutches of such unpleasant people as the sleuth-hounds of my friend Heron!”

CHAPTER IX WHAT LOVE CAN DO

”Yesterday you were unkind and ungallant How could I smile when you seemed so stern?”