"Why, what does this mean?" asked the princess, in amazement, as she
saw the anteroom deserted and the door closed.
"All his work, Elizabeth--all the work of this noble, faithful
Toulan. He went through a whole farce in order to get the people out
of here, and to make them swear that they never would smoke after
this in the anteroom. Oh, I shall never be able to repay him for
what he has done for us at the peril of his life."
"We will pray for him every morning and evening," replied the pious
Elizabeth. "But tell me, sister, did Toulon keep our ball of
thread?"
"Yes, sister, and succeeded in giving me another in exchange for it.
Here it is. To-night, when the guards are asleep, we will unwind it
and see what it contains. But here are other important things which
we must examine. Here, this half-burned light and this cigarette!
Let us be on the watch that no one surprise us."
She went again to the threshold of the sleeping-room. "Can you hear
me talk, children? Nod with your head if you heard me. Good. If
Tison comes in, speak to her loudly, and call her by name, so that
we may hear."
"And now, sister," she continued, turning to the table, "let us see
what Toulan has sent us. First, the cigar-light!"
She unfolded the paper, one side of which was burned, and showed a
black, jagged edge.
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