“Come, do not be again discouraged.  If our search has been unsuccessful hitherto, perhaps—­”

“May the good God help you, M. Rudolph.  My son would now be twenty.  His father would never reveal whether he lives.  Since he was condemned to the galleys, entreaties, prayers and letters have all been unanswered.”

The next day Rudolph heard from the Slasher of the plot against him and arranged to meet the Schoolmaster on the pretext of having a profitable business on hand.  The prospect of gain overcame the Schoolmaster’s suspicions and he and Screech-Owl met Rudolph in an inn.  Rudolph unfolded his scheme of entering a house in the Allee des Veuves, the residence of a doctor gone into the country.  The Schoolmaster agreed, but insisted on their remaining together till the evening.  On leaving the inn Rudolph dropped a note, which he saw picked up by the pseudo-charcoal-dealer, now attired as a gentleman.

The three retired to an inn of evil appearance, while Screech-Owl went out to reconnoitre the house and grounds.  She returned to the inn with a favourable report.  Suddenly the Schoolmaster threw himself on Rudolph and hurled him into the cellar, locking the door behind him.

Rudolph’s efforts to free himself were in vain.  For hours he lay there, gasping for breath.  Suddenly, when he was about to suffocate, the door was broken open, and he found himself fainting in the arms of the Slasher.

When Rudolph recovered consciousness he was in his house, attended by his doctor, a negro and the Slasher.

The Schoolmaster and the Screech-Owl had come to enter the house.  The Screech-Owl had remained at the gate to watch, but the Slasher, who had observed all, had silenced her with a blow.  Following the Schoolmaster in, he came upon him as he was overcoming one of Rudolph’s men and downed him with another blow.  Then the two robbers, being bound, were carried in.

“Order them to bring him here,” said Rudolph calmly, and the Schoolmaster was carried in, bound with ropes.  Rudolph addressed him.

“Escaped from the hulks, to which you were sentenced for life, you are the husband of Mrs. George.  What have you done with her son?”

Believing his hour was come he trembled and whimpered “mercy.”  He confessed all, even his crimes, his murders, speaking now in the grammatical French of his guiltless days.

“He lived in the Rue du Temple, where he passed as Francois Germain.  He left there; now I do not know where he is.”

“Good; your life shall be spared.  But I will paralyse the strength you have criminally abused.  Doctor David, do as I have told you.”

The Schoolmaster was seized by two servants and carried into another room.  A few minutes later he was brought back.

“You are free,” said Rudolph.  “Go and repent.  Here are five thousand francs.  You are harmless.”

The two men loosened the cords which bound him, then took a bandage from his eyes.  He sprang up in rage and terror; then falling back, cried in agony and fury, “I am blind!”