"For forging bank-notes to the amount of a million of florins."
"I suspected as much; I have several times been the victim of his thousand-florin notes."
"The victim, countess? Is that an appropriate expression?"
"I think it is," replied she, quietly. "Is that all the news?"
"No, countess. The count is taken, but his accomplice—"
She breathed quickly and her mouth quivered, but she rallied and made answer. "He had accomplices?"
"He had an accomplice, and—hush! we have no time for falsehood. Every moment is precious to you. Perhaps the director of the police came to me because knowing how—I have loved you, he would rescue you from shame. Let us hope that he did, for he told me that he had orders to arrest the Countess Baillou."
"When?" asked she, almost inaudibly; and now her face was pale as death.
"At dusk, that you might be spared the curiosity of a crowd."
Arabella sprang from her couch. "It is already night!" cried she, her voice rising almost to a scream.