“What is in it?”
“Your papers. It is covered with blue velvet and studded with silver, the lock and bands are of the same metal.”
“Ha! was it she took the casket?” cried Balsamo, stamping his foot.
“Yes, she. Going down the stairs to the anteroom, she opens the door, draws the chain undoing the street door and is out in the street.”
“It is late?”
“It is nighttime. Once out, she runs like a mad thing up on the main street towards the Bastile. She knocks up against passengers and questions.”
“Lose not a word—what does she say?”
“She asks a man clad in black where she can find the Chief of Police.”
“So it was not a vain threat of hers. What does she do?”
“Having the address, she retraces her steps to cross a large square—— ”