"It wouldn’t be the first time that that person had passed the night in this house."
"Great heavens! People hide themselves in my château, without my knowledge?"
"You see, monsieur, that we are well guarded," said Cornélie; "to-morrow I shall throw the whole household out of doors!"
However, upon the assurance that there was nothing new in the château, the windows closed one by one. The cook provided Alfred with a light, and he decided to examine the tower and the vaults, without the assistance of the concierge. Mademoiselle Cheval boldly offered to accompany the young man; but he thanked her and bent his steps alone toward the part of the château which was not occupied.
Alfred found the door of the tower still open; he went up to every floor, examined all the chambers, and carefully secured the doors; then he went down into the cellars, to which the more dignified name of subterranean vaults had been given; but he saw no one there and nothing to indicate that the vagabond had visited the place very recently.
Alfred spent nearly two hours in his investigation. The dawn was beginning to appear when he went to his apartment, to prepare his things for his departure. He ordered François to send his luggage and Edouard’s to the White House, and was on the point of leaving the château, when he saw Robineau, who had risen very early in order to see his friends before their departure.
"So you are going away?" said Robineau to Alfred.
"Yes, my friend; nothing can stop me now."
"And Monsieur Edouard?"
"He is waiting for me at the White House."