"Now, then," continued the former briskly, "we will stay the hand of punishment temporarily in the matter of this official scoundrel and teach this magistrate or attorney-general, or whatever he is, that he cannot turn his wife out of his house and keep her money!"
"But," objected Laroque. "I think there is a child, though I'm not certain."
"Makes no difference whatsoever!" declared M. Perissard. "The money goes to the child upon the death of its mother—not before!" He glanced at his watch. "You go back and find out all that you can from the lady and we will wait for you here. You should be able to pump her thoroughly in an hour. That will give you plenty of time to catch the six-thirty train for Paris. You might as well begin on the work right away."
"Most certainly!" agreed M. Merivel, with a heavy nod. "Nulla dies sine—H'm!—the Latin, of course!"
"We will wait for you here and give you your final instructions," added M. Perissard, as Laroque rose. "Oh, and try to get a power of attorney from her!" The latter nodded.
"I'll be back in an hour!" he promised, and with a wave of the hand he hurried out.
[CHAPTER XII]
"WHO SAVES ANOTHER——"
When the footsteps of the three protectors of society died away down the stairway of the Three Crowns, the woman opened the door of the dressing room and crept out.