"No, I won't kill you—it is not worth while. What was it that my little Bob said to me? Where has he gone, I should like to know!"
She repeated these words over and over again. Presently she vaguely recalled what Robeccal had last said to her.
"'He will not be long,' he said, 'he was going—' Where was he going? Oh! for the police—Gudel and Fanfar had better look out!"
She now crawled away from the bed until she found the brandy bottle, which she drained, all the time saying over and over confused words about the police and papers which would cost two persons their lives.
Although Caillette did not understand, she saw that there was danger, pressing and immediate, for both Gudel and Fanfar. She waited until La Roulante's heavy breathing showed that she was asleep, and then the young girl cautiously crept from her bed and to the door, which, fortunately, was not locked. She hurried to her father's room. Some one lay before the door. She stooped and recognized the faithful clown, who had thus mounted guard.
"Bobichel! I must speak to my father," she whispered.
"What! is it you, little Caillette? Is there trouble?"
"Yes—and not one moment to lose!"
Bobichel was wide awake and on his feet. He opened the door for Caillette. Her father was on the bed asleep. Fanfar was asleep, too, sitting in his chair.
Fanfar started up. "Caillette!" he exclaimed.