clever precautions, would have been able to act with the most complete certainty.  But to ask this of him to-day, on the instant!—­Herminia—­it is folly to think of!”—­The marquis threw down the pen which he held in his hand; then he added, in a tone of bitter and profound irritation:  “At the very moment of success—­to see all our hopes destroyed!—­Oh, the consequences of all this are incalculable.  Your niece will be the cause of the greatest mischief—­oh! the greatest injury to us.”

It is impossible to describe the expression of deep rage and implacable hatred with which D’Aigrigny uttered these last words.

“Frederick,” cried the princess with anxiety, as she clasped her hands strongly around the abbe’s, “I conjure you, do not despair!—­The doctor is fertile in resources, and he is so devoted to us.  Let us at least, make the attempt.”

“Well—­it is at least a chance,” said the abbe, taking up the pen again.

“Should it come to the worst.” said the princess, “and Adrienne go this evening to fetch General Simon’s daughters, she may perhaps no longer find them.

“We cannot hope for that.  It is impossible that Rodin’s orders should have been so quickly executed.  We should have been informed of it.”

“It is true.  Write then to the doctor; I will send you Dubois, to carry your letter.  Courage, Frederick! we shall yet be too much for that ungovernable girl.”  Madame de Saint-Dizier added, with concentrated rage:  “Oh, Adrienne!  Adrienne! you shall pay dearly for your insolent sarcasms, and the anxiety you have caused us.”

As she went out, the princess turned towards M. d’Aigrigny, and said to him:  “Wait for me here.  I will tell you the meaning of this visit of the police, and we will go in together.”

The princess disappeared.  D’Aigrigny dashed off a few words, with a trembling hand.

CHAPTER XLII.

The snare.

After the departure of Madame de Saint-Dizier and the marquis, Adrienne had remained in her aunt’s apartment with M. Baleinier and Baron Tripeaud.

On hearing of the commissary’s arrival, Mdlle. de Cardoville had felt considerable uneasiness; for there could be no doubt that, as Agricola had apprehended, this magistrate was come to search the hotel and extension, in order to find the smith, whom he believed to be concealed there.

Though she looked upon Agricola’s hiding-place as a very safe one, Adrienne was not quite tranquil on his account; so in the event of any unfortunate accident, she thought it a good opportunity to recommend the refugee to the doctor, an intimate friend, as we have said, of one of the most influential ministers of the day.  So, drawing near to the physician, who was conversing in a low voice with the baron, she said to him in her softest and most coaxing manner:  “My good M. Baleinier, I wish to speak a few words with you.”  She pointed to the deep recess of one of the windows.