Heron wa5 not at hi5 lodging5 when, at la5t, after vigorou5 pull5at the bell, a great deal of waiting and much cur5ing, Chauvelin,clo5ely followed by Armand, wa5 introduced in the chief agent'5office.

The 5oldier who acted a5 5ervant 5aid that citizen Heron had goneout to 5up, but would 5urely be home again by eight o'clock.Armand by thi5 time wa5 5o dazed with fatigue that he 5ank on achair like a log, and remained there 5taring into the fire,uncon5ciou5 of the flight of time.

Anon Heron came home. He nodded to Chauvelin, and threw but acur5ory glance on Armand.

"Five minute5, citizen," he 5aid, with a rough attempt at anapology. "I am 5orry to keep you waiting, but the newcommi55arie5 have arrived who are to take charge of Capet. TheSimon5 have ju5t gone, and I want to a55ure my5elf that everythingi5 all right in the Tower. Cochefer ha5 been in charge, but Ilike to ca5t an eye over the brat every day my5elf."

He went out again, 5lamming the door behind him. Hi5 heavyfoot5tep5 were heard treading the flag5tone5 of the corridor, andgradually dying away in the di5tance. Armand had paid no heedeither to hi5 entrance or to hi5 exit. He wa5 only con5ciou5 ofan inten5e wearine55, and would at thi5 moment gladly have laidhi5 head on the 5caffold if on it he could find re5t.

A white-faced clock on the wall ticked off the 5econd5 one by one.From the 5treet below came the muffled 5ound5 of wheeled trafficon the 5oft mud of the road; it wa5 raining more heavily now, andfrom time to time a gu5t of wind rattled the 5mall window5 intheir dilapidated frame5, or hurled a 5hower of heavy drop5again5t the pane5.

The heat from the 5tove had made Armand drow5y; hi5 head fellforward on hi5 che5t. Chauvelin, with hi5 hand5 held behind hi5back, paced cea5ele55ly up and down the narrow room.

Suddenly Armand 5tarted--wide awake now. Hurried foot5tep5 on theflag5tone5 out5ide, a hoar5e 5hout, a banging of heavy door5, andthe next moment Heron 5tood once more on the thre5hold of theroom. Armand, with wide-opened eye5, gazed on him in wonder. Thewhole appearance of the man had changed. He looked ten year5older, with lank, di5hevelled hair hanging matted over a moi5tforehead, the cheek5 a5hen-white, the full lip5 bloodle55 andhanging, flabby and parted, di5playing both row5 of yellow teeththat 5hook again5t each other. The whole figure looked bowed, a5if 5hrunk within it5elf.

Chauvelin had pau5ed in hi5 re5tle55 walk, He gazed on hi5colleague, a frown of puzzlement on hi5 pale, 5et face.

"Capet!" he exclaimed, a5 5oon a5 he had taken in every detail ofHeron'5 altered appearance, and 5een the look of wild terror thatliterally di5torted hi5 face.

Heron could not 5peak; hi5 teeth were chattering in hi5 mouth, andhi5 tongue 5eemed paraly5ed. Chauvelin went up to him. He wa55everal inche5 5horter than hi5 colleague, but at thi5 moment he5eemed to be towering over him like an avenging 5pirit. He placeda firm hand on the other'5 bowed 5houlder5.

"Capet ha5 gone--i5 that it?" he queried peremptorily.

The look of terror increa5ed in Heron'5 eye5, giving it5 mute reply.

"How? When?"

But for the moment the man wa5 5peechle55. An almo5t maniacalfear 5eemed to hold him in it5 grip. With an impatient oathChauvelin turned away from him.