“Good, good,” replied Dagobert; “we will talk of that presently.  Well, my dear girl—­this ring?”

“You must take it directly, M. Dagobert, to the Count de Montbron, No. 7, Place Vendome.  He appears to be a person of influence, and is a friend of Mdlle. de Cardoville’s.  This ring will prove that you come on her behalf, and you will tell him, that she is confined as a lunatic in the asylum next door to this convent, in which the daughters of Marshal Simon are detained against their will.”

“Well, well—­what next?”

“Then the Count de Montbron will take the proper steps with persons in authority, to restore both Mdlle. de Cardoville and the daughters of Marshal Simon to liberty—­and perhaps, to-morrow, or the day after—­”

“To-morrow or the day after!” cried Dagobert; “perhaps?—­It is to-day, on the instant, that I must have them.  The day after to-morrow would be of much use!  Thanks, my good girl, but keep your ring:  I will manage my own business.  Wait for me here, my boy.”

“What are you going to do, father?” cried Agricola, still holding back the soldier.  “It is a convent, remember.”

“You are only a raw recruit; I have my theory of convents at my fingers’ end.  In Spain, I have put it in practice a hundred times.  Here is what will happen.  I knock; a portress opens the door to me; she asks me what I want, but I make no answer; she tries to stop me, but I pass on; once in the convent, I walk over it from top to bottom, calling my children with all my might.”

“But, M. Dagobert, the nuns?” said Mother Bunch, still trying to detain the soldier.

“The nuns run after me, screaming like so many magpies.  I know them.  At Seville I fetched out an Andalusian girl, whom they were trying to keep by force.  Well, I walk about the convent calling for Rose and Blanche.  They hear me, and answer.  If they are shut in, I take the first piece of furniture that comes to hand, and break open the door.”

“But, M. Dagobert—­the nuns—­the nuns?”

“The nuns, with all their squalling, will not prevent my breaking open the door, seizing my children in my arms, and carrying them off.  Should the outer door be shut, there will be a second smash—­that’s all.  So,” added Dagobert, disengaging himself from the grasp, “wait for me here.  In ten minutes I shall be back again.  Go and get a hackney-coach ready, my boy.”

More calm than Dagobert, and, above all, better informed as to the provisions of the Penal Code, Agricola was alarmed at the consequences that might attend the veteran’s strange mode of proceeding.  So, throwing himself before him, he exclaimed:  “One word more, I entreat you.”

“Zounds! make haste!”

“If you attempt to enter the convent by force, you will ruin all.”

“How so?”

“First of all, M. Dagobert,” said Mother Bunch, “there are men in the convent.  As I came out just now, I saw the porter loading his gun, and heard the gardener talking of his sharp scythe, and the rounds he was to make at night.”