Barrington’s anger was quickly absorbed in the realization of the utter hopelessness of his position.  Latour had trapped him.  When he sent him the appointment to come to the Chat Rouge, he must have known what he had told him to-day; he had deliberately said nothing until after Seth’s anxiety had been quieted; and his jailer, Jacques Sabatier, was a party to the deceit.  Latour had it firmly fixed in his mind that he was in league with Bruslart, and it seemed that nothing short of a miracle would drive this idea out of his mind.  Barrington could conceive no way in which he could convince him, and the thought that all this while Jeanne was in peril almost drove him mad.  Could he escape?  For the first time since he had entered it he examined his stone cellar carefully.  It was a very grave for security.

When Sabatier visited him next morning, his manner gave Barrington an idea.  Sabatier entered more carefully than he was wont to do, his hand upon a pistol thrust into his tri-color sash.  It was evident he feared attack.  His greeting was friendly, however; he showed a keen interest in the prisoner, and gave him odds and ends of news which were of little importance.

“Any message for Citizen Latour?” he asked as he was leaving.

“Tell him he is a fool.”

Why should Barrington not attack and overpower his jailer?  It might be useless, perhaps others were watching in the passage without, ready to rush in at the slightest sound; still, it would be something attempted.  He had succeeded in silencing the man at the Lion d’Or that night, why should he not succeed again?

The next morning Sabatier came before his time, Barrington was not ready to take him unawares.  Again he asked the same question, and Barrington gave him a similar answer.

“Tell Latour he is a fool.”

“I will.  He may end by believing it.  I may have news for you to-morrow.”

There was meaning in the words, a suggestion that the news might be good news.  Barrington decided to give his jailer a chance of telling it.

Sabatier came at the usual hour.

“Do you bring news?” Barrington asked.

“Citizen Latour remains a fool.  I mean it.  I do not believe you know where mademoiselle is.”

“Then you will help me?”

“Monsieur, I try every day to persuade Deputy Latour that he is mistaken.”

“We must try another way, Sabatier.”

“I will, if monsieur will agree to what I say.  I have to think of myself, and Citizen Latour is a dangerous man to thwart.  For a day or two longer I will try and persuade him; if I fail I will do my best to help you to escape, but you must be patient or you put my neck under the knife.  Do you agree?”

“Agree!  I must.  I have no choice.”

“Your servant Seth might help me; where shall I find him?”

“My good friend, how can I tell?  Paris is a large place,” was the prompt answer.  Barrington was not going to speak of Monsieur Fargeau.  His house might presently prove the only safe retreat for him in the city.