“If necessary, must I fire?”
“Don’t be rash; but, if he attacks you, of course defend yourself. Come, ‘tis time you were gone.”
Dubois-Fanferlot went out. Verduret and Prosper resumed their post of observation.
“Why all this secrecy?” inquired Prosper. “Clameran is charged with ten times worse crimes than I was ever accused of, and yet my disgrace was made as public as possible.”
“Don’t you understand,” replied the fat man, “that I wish to separate the cause of Raoul from that of the marquis? But, sh! look!”
Clameran had left his place near the orange-woman’s stand, and approached the bridge, where he seemed to be trying to make out some unexpected object.
“Ah!” said M. Verduret; “he has just discovered our man.”
Clameran’s uneasiness was quite apparent; he walked forward a few steps, as if intending to cross the bridge; then, suddenly turning around, rapidly walked in the direction of the Rue St. Jacques.
“He is caught!” cried M. Verduret with delight.
At that moment the door opened, and Mme. Nina Gypsy, alias Palmyre Chocareille, entered.