think twice.”

“Never. It is a trick you wish to play on me.”

“Very well.” I went to the door, and opened it wide. “You are free to go.”

“To go?”

“It is your mistress’s wish.”

“She will not send me to prison?”

“She scorns to do anything whatever.”

For a moment the girl looked puzzled, and then:

“Ah! it is a bad pleasantry; the gendarmes are on the stairs.”

I shrugged my shoulders, and at length she tripped quietly out of the room.