"Certain?"
"Or nearly so; while being free and rich—"
"You will hide your money, and make love to a spinster instead of to the mistress of Noah's Well."
"Well, then, it is settled."
"To-morrow at the tavern."
"At what hour?"
"At six in the evening."
"Flee quickly; there they are. I tell you to be quick, because, I presume, you descend and go through the vaults."
"To-morrow," repeated Théodore, hastening away.
And not before it was time, for the voices and steps drew near, and lights were already seen approaching in the obscurity of the underground passage. Théodore gained the gate which the writer from whom he had taken the hut had shown him, opened the lock with his crowbar, reached the window, threw it open, dropped softly into the street, and found himself upon the pavement of the Republic once again.