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Meanwhile the entertainment was going on. Gudel gave more than he promised in his handbill. Before the curtain went up, he called together the members of his troupe, and encouraged them to do their best. La Roulante went up to him, and to his great amazement said a few conciliatory words. As Gudel was by no means ill-natured, he shook hands with her.
And the invalid took Fanfar's head in her trembling hands, and kissed him tenderly. "And Bobichel! you here, too!" cried Caillette, overjoyed. Irène went to Fanfar's side. "I have come," she said, quietly. Without leaving his mother he took the girl's fair hand and pressed it to his lips. Arthur began to question Gudel, and from him learned the whole truth.
"Yes, that would do very well, would it not, Fanfar?" asked the girl, eagerly. "Where shall we go?" said Fanfar to Gudel. "We had best take the road to Paris. If we are pursued, we shall find a hiding-place there as well as anywhere else." "Shall we wake Schwann?" asked the clown. "No, no what is the use?
"Who is this man," he asked, "who has revealed to you the conversation of Gudel and his accomplices?" "He is a scoundrel named Robeccal, who belongs to their troupe." The Marquis tore a leaf from his note book, and wrote a few words in haste. "Take this man with you, and go to Rémisemont," he said. "Go to the Comte de Vernac, who is a rabid monarchist.
The clown looked after him, and then began to pound his own head until tears came to his eyes. "Idiot! Fool!" he muttered. "Will you never learn any sense. Why did you let that rascal see your game? You must warn Fanfar without delay." And as he saw some boys looking at him, they thinking that his despair heightened his comic appearance, he began to run toward the inn. Gudel met him at the door.
She hated Caillette for her youth and her beauty; she hated Fanfar for his goodness, and hated Gudel for his patience and for his good spirits. Robeccal joined the troop. Gudel had found him dying of hunger, and had rescued him. Soon he and Roulante were on excellent terms; both were thoroughly vicious.
But Fanfar would certainly be in the way, for he never would allow the child to suffer, and therefore it was plain that Fanfar should disappear with Gudel. Such steps as these required serious consideration, and it was growing dark when these two conspirators returned to Saint Amé. In the meantime, two of our friends were taking a walk.
Little Caillette was very gay, and it was with a pretty, childish laugh that she swung herself to the ground, where in two minutes her father and Fanfar also stood. The two horses, all saddled, stood ready. "You have the papers, Fanfar?" asked Gudel, in a whisper. "Yes I have them." "Then let us start at once." Caillette, without the smallest hesitation, sprang on Fanfar's horse.
This Gudel is one of the leaders of the conspiracy of which I have told you, and Fanfar is the man on whom these bandits rely to arouse the populace in Paris." Then in a low voice he told the Marquis how Iron Jaws had then in his possession papers which would prove the whole plot, and give the names of the conspirators.
Gudel was not in the least hurt; he had received a great shock, that was all. When La Roulante left the room, she was met at the door by Robeccal. "You see," he said, in a fierce whisper, "that if I had done as I wished, and used a knife, the whole thing would have been settled by this time." The two accomplices stood talking in the large room which the men of the company shared.
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