CHAPTER XII. THE AWAKENING

La Boulaye awakened betimes next morning. It may be that the matter on his mind and the business that was toward aroused him; certainly it was none of the sounds that are common to an inn at early morn, for the place was as silent as a tomb.

Some seconds he remained on his back, staring at the whitewashed ceiling and listening to the patter of the rain against his window. Then, as his mind gathered up the threads of recollection, he leapt from his bed and made haste to assume a garment or two.

He stood a moment at his casement, looking out into the empty courtyard. From a leaden sky the rain was descending in sheets, and the gargoyle at the end of the eaves overhead was discharging a steady column of water into the yard. Caron shivered with the cold of that gloomy February morning, and turned away from the window. A few moments later he was in Tardivet's bedchamber, vigorously shaking the sleeping Captain.

"Up, Charlot! Awake!" he roared in the man's ear.

"What o'clock?" he asked with a yawn. Then a sudden groan escaped him, and he put his hand to his head. "Thousand devils!" he swore, "what a headache!"

But La Boulaye was not there on any mission of sympathy, nor did he waste words in conveying his news.

"The coach is gone," he announced emphatically.

"Coach? What coach?" asked the Captain, knitting his brows.

"What coach?" echoed La Boulaye testily. "How many coaches were there? Why, the Bellecour coach; the coach with the treasure."

Answer this series of questions:

1. what did the coach have?
2. what had happened to him?
3. who announced this?
4. to who?
5. what's his name?
6. and what does La Boulaye call him?
7. was it a cold morning?
8. what month was it?
9. was it snowing?
10. then?
11. what was releasing water?
12. was it in his room?
13. where?
14. where was the water flowing?
15. was the hotel noisy?
16. what is the quietness described as?
17. why did he get up so early?
18. and did he get out of bed right away?
19. what is his first name?
20. what was wrong with the captain?
1. treasure
2. he was gone
3. La Boulaye
4. the Captain
5. Tardivet
6. Charlot
7. yes
8. February
9. no
10. raining
11. the gargoyle
12. no
13. at the end of the eaves
14. into the yard
15. no
16. a tomb
17. the matter on his mind aroused him
18. no
19. Caron
20. had a headache