"Silence," said Cornélius. "Oosterlinck, in his letter, answers for this youth. Have we not a hundred thousand livres in hand belonging to Oosterlinck?" he whispered in her ear; "and is not that good security?"
"And supposing he were to steal the Bavarian jewels? He looks far more like a thief than a Fleming."
"Hark!" exclaimed the old man, listening.
The two misers listened. Vaguely, an instant after the hush, a noise of men's steps was heard, far away on the further side of the city moat.
"It is the round of the watch at Le Plessis," said the sister.
"Come, give me the key of the apprentice's room," Cornélius went on.
The old maid was about to take up the lamp.
"What, are you going to leave us together without a light?" cried Cornélius, with evident meaning. "Cannot you move about in the dark at your age? Is it so difficult to find that key?"
The old woman understood the meaning behind these words, and went away.
As he looked after this extraordinary creature, just as she reached the door, Philippe Goulenoire could cast a furtive glance round the room unobserved by his master. It was wainscoted with oak half-way up, and the walls were hung with yellow leather, patterned with black; but what most struck him was a firelock musket with its long spring dagger attached. This new and terrible weapon lay close by Cornélius.