Year: 1869

sentence and finally her pardon If you
doubt this, you have simply to apply to the
chief OF my command, and he will confirm
my assertion"


The woman turned pale as DEATH Calm
ing her agitation, she turned to Roulier,
and said hastily: "Spare him until I find
out the truth of this"


/" Stop, said the detective quickly. " l
Will not allow you to intercede for me. If
you would give me my freedom now, [
would not accept it from you"
The woman turned away and left the
room. Mr. Roulier directed two of his
men to lift the detective, who was. bound
so securely as to be helpless, and convey
him to the dungeon. The order was
obeyed. Rouler led the way, carrying a
large lamp, and the remainder of the men
followed, bearing the detective with them.
They passed through the hall, descending
stone staircase to the cellar, and paused
before heavy, closed door, This Roulier
opened, and the party passed into the room.


The detective was set down on the floor
and Roulier, elevating the light, said,
"Look around you, Monsieur Laromie-
This room is very large and strong The
walls, floor and ceiling are all Of stone, and
there is no outlet save through this heavy
door way by which we have entered
Some years before you became connected
with the Police of Paris, this building was
occupied by one of its principal officers for
professional purposes. 1t is within one
quarter of mile of the Hotel de Vile, SO
that you are almost within hearing of your
friends, though powerless to aid you. To
morrow night, at 9 o'clock, our sentence
will be executed upon you. Until then
we leave you to your own reflections. Good
night, Monsieur Laromie"


The men passed out of the cell, and the
heavy door closed. Laromie heard the
bolts slide into the hasp, and then all was
silent. The dungeon in which he lay was
perfectly dark, and he was SO securely
bound that he could not move limb. He
had no hope of escape. He was in the
hands of his most inveterate enemies, and
he knew that he could not expect any mercy
from them. They had long threatened him
with vengeance for the injuries he had in
ficted upon them by detecting their plots
and, now that they had him in their power,
he felt sure that they would carry out their
diabolical threat. Though he was without
hope he was not deserted by his courage


He was brave man, and he resolved tc
meet his fate with fortitude. Still, he
cursed his folly bitterly, and was almost
though not quite-ready to swear that il
he could escape this time he would not
look at woman again.


lie bad been in the cell little over an
hour, when he heard noise as if part of
the floor was being moved. He listened
intently. The sound continued to be
heard. Then some one spoke his name in
a whisper.


Laromie are you here ?" asked the
same voice


q Yes" replied the detective; but who
in the fiend's name are you ?"


The voice repeated the watchword of the
secret police, and then Laromie became con-
scious OF the presence of another person in
the cell


:" Regnard. is it you ?" asked Laromie,
who recognized the voice as that of one of
his fellow detectives. How did you get
here ?"


Regnard drew back the shade Of a dark
lantern and showed Laromie square open
ing in the floor


+" Through that hole,' he replied " But
stay Let me commence at the beginning.
What you said to the Chief about your
little affair. made him anxious for your
safety. He sent me to watch you, so that
we might assist you if you got into trouble
| followed you to the opera, and rode be-
hind the carriage which brought you here.
The name Of the lady, which, you recollect,
you gave to the Chief, did not correspond
with that of the woman who resides here.
reported your presence here to the Chief
1t seems that he once used this building
for Government purposes. There's secret
passage from this prison chamber to the
house; he was well acquainted with it, hav-
ing used it years ago The secret was
never impaired to any one out of the en-
ploy of the State, and no one else could
have discovered it. The Chief instructed
me how to use this passage, and, being still
anxious for your safety, he directed me to
gain admittance to the house by means of
it, and learn what could concerning YOU.
| had no idea of finding you here Tell
me what is the meaning of your being here
in this way?"


" First cut these cords, and [ will, said
Laromie


He was soon freed from his bonds; after
which he related all that had happened to
him.


GA plan suggests itself to me-" he add
ed. He quickly explained to his COM
panion the design which had at that instant
presented itself to his mind Regnard
shook his head.


1t involves great risk" he said, grave
ly and may be fatal to you"


Nevertheless said Laromie, " shall
try it. First show me how to escape from
this place, in case find such step neces-
sary, and then do as | tell you"


Regnard showed him how to work the
opening in the floor, and then arranged the
cords SO that it would seem as if Laromie
were still bound by them; but fixed them
in such way that he could free himself
at moments warning. He left his Ian
tern and some matches with Laromie and
then, entering the secret passage closed the