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"Scoundrels, God help you, if all is not right," hissed Fanfaro, "bring us quickly to the house named." "Oh, it is very easy to find," began Rolla, but Bobichel threatened her with his fist and cried: "So much the better for you, forward march!" Robeckal and the Cannon Queen, held in the grips of Fanfaro and the clown, proceeded on the way to Belleville.
As she was about to open the door, she suddenly paused; she thought she heard a voice, and listened. A knock now sounded at the door, and Louison asked: "Who is there?" "A friend," came back in a loud voice. "Your name?" "You do not know me." "Tell me your name." "Robeckal; please admit me." The young girl did not open at once; an indefinable fear seized her.
"No," replied Aube, "she is an orphan, and is called the 'Marquise." "Why has she received that sobriquet?" "I do not know. She is a very respectable girl." "Where does she live?" "Not far from here, No. 42 Boulevard du Temple, fifth story. Robeckal, an extra waiter, who, as I have since found out, is a cunning scoundrel, had engaged her for to-night."
He declared that the wretch had cut the chain in Sainte-Ame for the purpose of killing the athlete, and said everything in such a passionless way that the judges became convinced that he was speaking the truth. As soon as the indictment had been read, the proceedings began. Robeckal whiningly declared that he bitterly regretted what he had done.
Hardly had the door closed behind him than the man in the brown overcoat stopped reading his paper and left the room too. "One word, friend," he said to Robeckal. "Quick, what does it concern?" "Twenty francs for you, if you answer me properly." "Go ahead." "What is this Firejaws?" "Athlete, acrobat, wrestler anything you please." "What is his right name?" "Girdel, Cesar Girdel."
Whether Robeckal suspected how things were, we do not know; anyhow, he did not pursue the subject any further, but said: "Schwan brought two men to Girdel a little while ago; come with me to the upper story; we can listen at the door there and find out what they say."
At last, the heavy iron door swung open, and Vidocq, the great detective, entered his cell. Robeckal knew him, and breathed more freely. Vidocq, no doubt, came to release him. "Thank God you have come, Monsieur Vidocq," cried Robeckal to the official; "the time was becoming rather long for me."
For the past three days I have been at The Golden Calf, just in the street above." "Ah, by Monsieur Aube?" "Yes. The landlord would like to treat his guests to-day to some special amusement, and so he said to me last night, 'Robeckal, do you know of anything new and piquant! "'The "Marquise," master, I replied. "'But will she come? "'H'm, we must ask her. How much do you intend to spend?
See that you take a little walk afterward on the country road. I will meet you there and tell you my plan." "Do so. Let us go to dinner now, I am hungry." When Rolla and Robeckal entered the dining-room, Girdel, Caillette, Bobichel, and Fanfaro were already sitting at table, and Schwan was just bringing in a hot, steaming dish.
"Enter, ladies and gentlemen, enter," exclaimed Bobichel, as he stood at the box-office and cordially greeted the crowds of people. "I wonder whether she will come?" muttered Caillette to herself. "Everything is ready," whispered Robeckal to Rolla; the Cannon Queen nodded and threw dark scowls at Girdel and Fanfaro.
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