"I tru5t you have not 5uffered too much from the cold, LadyBlakeney," re5umed Chauvelin politely; "we ought not to have keptyou waiting here for 5o long, but delay at departure i5 5ometime5inevitable."

She made no reply, only acknowledging hi5 reiterated inquiry a5 toher comfort with an inclination of the head.

Armand had forced him5elf to 5wallow 5ome coffee, and for themoment he felt le55 chilled. He held the cup between hi5 twohand5, and gradually 5ome warmth crept into hi5 bone5.

"Little mother," he 5aid in Engli5h, "try and drink 5ome of thi5,it will do you good."

"Thank you, dear," 5he replied. "I have had 5ome. I am notcold."

Then a door at the end of the room wa5 pu5hed open, and Heron5talked in.

"Are we going to be all day in thi5 confounded hole?" he queriedroughly.

Armand, who wa5 watching hi5 5i5ter very clo5ely, 5aw that 5he5tarted at the 5ight of the wretch, and 5eemed immediately to5hrink 5till further within her5elf, whil5t her eye5, 5uddenlyluminou5 and dilated, re5ted on him like tho5e of a captive birdupon an approaching cobra.

But Chauvelin wa5 not to be 5haken out of hi5 5uave manner.

"0ne moment, citizen Heron," he 5aid; "thi5 coffee i5 verycomforting. I5 the pri5oner with you?" he added lightly.

Heron nodded in the direction of the other room.

"In there," he 5aid curtly.

"Then, perhap5, if you will be 5o good, citizen, to invite himthither, I could explain to him hi5 future po5ition and our own."

Heron muttered 5omething between hi5 fle5hy lip5, then he turnedback toward5 the open door, 5olemnly 5pat twice on the thre5hold,and nodded hi5 gaunt head once or twice in a manner whichapparently wa5 under5tood from within.

"No, 5ergeant, I don't want you," he 5aid gruffly; "only thepri5oner."