“It is easy,” said Seth, a sudden inspiration coming to him, perhaps because he was convinced that this man was bent on baffling inquiry.  “To come here was to put myself in your power.  Monsieur Barrington has trusted you, but I should be a fool to trust you without reason; indeed, I have reason to distrust you since my master is missing.  You could easily have given word that he would be at the Chat Rouge at a certain hour, and the doors of a Paris prison would close on him.”

“Yes, that could have been done,” said Latour, “and, faithful servant though you be, I fail to see what counter stroke you could have made.”

“No?  It seems obvious to me.  Play the life of Deputy Latour against the life of Richard Barrington.  There would speedily be a yelling crowd on the stairs if I denounced you as the man who had rescued Mademoiselle St. Clair.”

Seth looked for some change of expression in his companion’s face, but it did not come.  Fear never caught at this man’s heart.

“I think there would,” said Latour, “if you could make the crowd believe it.”

“You can make the mob believe anything at the present moment.”

“You may be right.  I do not study the mob much.  There is one point, however, which you overlook,” said Latour, quietly.  “I might take steps to prevent your telling the mob.”

“That is exactly the danger against which I have taken precaution,” Seth answered.  “You are not the first person to whom I have applied.”

Latour was fully alive to the danger which such a precaution implied.  A casual word had power in it to ruin him, yet he gave no sign of being disturbed, and Seth appreciated to some extent the kind of man he had to deal with.

“You see, monsieur, there are those who would not wait three days if I did not return from my visit to you,” he said.

Latour nodded as though the position were quite an ordinary one, as though he had been aware of it from the first.

“I hope your caution, which I quite understand, but which was unnecessary, is not likely to injure your master.”

“I have been very careful,” said Seth.

“I am glad to hear it.  At present Monsieur Barrington is safe.”

“Then you can take me to him.”

“For the moment that is exactly what I cannot do,” Latour answered.  “In one sense Monsieur Barrington’s danger and mine are the same, but in another way his is greater than mine, at present.  The mob does not suspect me; it does suspect your master.  I can add to your knowledge a little.  As he went to the Chat Rouge that night he was recognized and had to run for his life.  Through Jacques Sabatier, whom you know, I was instrumental in saving him, but for some little time he will have to lie very closely.  Were you or I to be seen near his hiding-place it would only be to betray him.”

“I only have your word for this,” said Seth.

“And it is not enough?” said Latour, with a smile.  “I consider myself a judge of character, and I am not surprised.  There is a way out of the difficulty.  Will you be satisfied if your master sends you a letter telling you to await his further instructions patiently?”