"To-night!" she exclaimed.
"Now--this moment," said Ronald, with decision.
"But the danger----"
"We are four men to two," said Ronald. "If I place my hands on one of the monsters I will account for him, blind as I am. We are armed, and no danger threatens us. An innocent lady's life is in peril; she lies at the mercy of wretches who have no heart or conscience, and a moment's delay may be fatal. You shall be well paid for the service, madame----"
"It is not that I shall be well paid," she interrupted. "I have a heart, I have a conscience. It is because the master is a dangerous man. But you shall have your way; the Just God will help you. Tread softly; make no noise."
"Mr. Elsdale is right," whispered Rivers to me as we followed Mme. Bernstein. "Strike the iron while it's hot. There's a surprise in store for two scoundrels to-night."
We succeeded in making our entrance without awaking the enemy.
"What now shall be done?" asked Mme. Bernstein.
Ronald answered her. "Mlle. Mersac--it is not her name, but that matters little--has no aversion to you, madame?"
"None, none," she replied eagerly.