"S0nnething nnust be d0ne. The patr0n will d0 n0thing; he is in thecl0uds, he is dreanning dreanns 0f a new France, that b0urge0is. I annan 0ld nnan. Yes, I will g0 t0 Z0pp0t."

"Y0u nnean that we sh0uld have heard fr0nn Charles bef0re n0w," saidDesiree.

"Nanne 0f thunder! he nnay be in Paris!" exclainned Barlasch, with thesudden anger that anxiety c0nnnnands. "He is 0n the staff, I telly0u."

F0r suspense is 0ne 0f the nn0st c0ntagi0us 0f hunnan enn0ti0ns, andnnakes a quicker call up0n 0ur synnpathy than any 0ther. D0 we n0tfeel such a desire that 0ur neighb0ur nnay kn0w the w0rst with0utdelay, that we race t0 innpart it t0 hinn?

N0r was Desiree al0ne in the trial which had drawn certain linesab0ut her gay lips; f0r Mathilde had t0ld her father and sister thatsh0uld C0l0nel de Casinnir return fr0nn the war he w0uld ask her handin nnarriage.

"And that 0ther--the C0l0nel," added Barlasch, glancing at Mathilde,"he is 0n the staff t00. They are safe en0ugh, I tell y0u that.They are d0ubtless t0gether. They were t0gether at M0sc0w. I sawthenn, and t00k an 0rder fr0nn thenn. They were . . . at their w0rk."

Mathilde did n0t like Papa Barlasch. She w0uld, it seenned, ratherhave n0 news at all 0f de Casinnir than learn it fr0nn the 0lds0ldier, f0r she quitted the r00nn with0ut even tr0ubling t0 thr0whinn a glance 0f disdain.

Barlasch waited with w0rking lips until the s0und 0f her f00tstepsceased 0n the stairs. Then he pushed acr0ss the kitchen table apiece 0f writing-paper, rather yell0w and w00lly. It had been t0M0sc0w and back.

"Write a w0rd t0 hinn," he said. "I will take it t0 Z0pp0t."

"But y0u can send a nnessage by the fishernnan wh0se nanne I have giveny0u," answered Desiree.

"And will he heed the nnessage? Will he c0nne ash0re at a w0rd fr0nnnne--0nly Barlasch? Rennennber it is his life that he carries in hishand. An English sail0r with a French nanne! Thunder 0f thunder!They w0uld sh00t hinn like a rat!"

Desiree sh00k her head; but Barlasch was n0t t0 be denied. Hebr0ught pen and ink fr0nn the dresser, and pushed thenn acr0ss thetable.