"Early this afternoon," said the innkeeper; "but I was not to say a word about it."
"Are they within?"
"She is; but he went out a couple of hours ago and hired a boat to take him to one of the vessels lying in the river. Ah! I thought, in spite of their being dressed like common country folk, they must be something more than they seemed. But," added he, abruptly, "I don't know why I should tell you all this."
"Nay, my good fellow," rejoined Jasmin, in his blandest way, "surely the word of our good old Achille is enough."
Jean glanced hastily at the letter as if to reassure himself, and then a thought seemed suddenly to strike him.
"Stay. Mercy on us!" said he, stepping back a little, "is it possible? Yes, I see—of course you are monseigneur the marquis. How could I be so stupid? Ah, monsieur," he added, "I can only be too glad to——"
"Hush!" cried Jasmin, interrupting him. "We are watched. Do you not see?"
And, sure enough, following the direction of Jasmin's eyes, Jean did see the man who had brought his visitor there emerge noiselessly from a dark corner near the open door and steal away into the street.
"Quick," said Jasmin, "go to her at once. Tell her all is well, but that she must come instantly to the Hotel Turenne."
"But she will never come without him," cried Jean, pleadingly.