Rudolph appeared to be about thirty-six, tall, graceful, of a contemplative air, yet with a haughty and imperious, carriage of the head.  In other respects he sported with ease the language and manners which gave him a perfect resemblance to the Ogress’s other guests.  He represented himself as a painter of fans.

Presently the Schoolmaster entered the inn, with a woman.  He was a powerful, fleshy fellow with a face mutilated and scarred in a most horribly repugnant fashion.  The woman was old and her green eye, hooked nose, and countenance, at once reminded Rudolph of the horrible woman of whom Goualeuse had been the victim.  Suddenly seizing his arm, Goualeuse whispered “Oh!  The Owl!  The one-eyed woman!”

At this moment the Schoolmaster approached the table and said to Rudolph “If you don’t hand the wench over to me, I’ll smash you.”

“For the love of heaven, defend me,” cried Goualeuse to Rudolph.

He rose and was about to attack the Schoolmaster when the charcoal-dealer rushed into the inn, and coming up to him whispered in German, “Your Highness, the countess and her brother are at the end of the street.”

At these words, Rudolph threw a louis on the counter and hurried towards the door.  The Schoolmaster attempted to stop him but fell heavily under two or three blows straight from the shoulder.

Soon after he had gone two strangers entered, one in a military frock-coat, the other easily detected as a woman in male attire.  She was the Countess Sarah Macgregor.  They ordered drinks and proceeded to make inquiries after Rudolph.  When they left, the Schoolmaster and the Screech-Owl followed them and robbed them in a dark street.  But they suffered the robbery quietly and even offered the ruffian and his woman more to lay a trap for M. Rudolph.  They parted, but an invisible witness—­the Slasher—­had been present.  Alarmed at the perils which threatened his new friend, he resolved to warn him.

II

On the morrow Rudolph again made his way to the tavern and met the Ogress, with whom he had a short conversation which resulted in his paying La Goualeuse’s debts to the old hag and taking the girl for a drive in the country.  They spent the day roaming about the fields.  Towards evening the carriage stopped at a farm near a pretty village and to her amazed delight Rudolph told Fleur-de-Marie that she might stay there with Mrs. George, the mistress of the farm.  He explained his sympathy for her in the loss of the child who would have been her age.

Fleur-de-Marie could not reply.  She seized his hand, and before he could prevent her, raised it to her lips with an air of modest submission; then she followed Mrs. George, who was to play the character of her aunt.

Before he left, Rudolph said to Mrs. George, “Marie will at least find a corner in your heart?”

“Yes, I shall devote my time to her as I should be giving it to him,” she said with emotion.