"The Duke cried, 'Forward! March, boys! A fine adventure, is n't it?' His cheerfulness put spirit into us all, and even the baby gave a little laugh, as if pleased; but why babies laugh no man knows, nor woman either. As for the Duke, he nor we had the least idea of where we were going. As we started down the long stone corridor, the thief cried out, 'Wait a little. I am a fool! A thief of my experience not to know better! Ye saints! An empty bottle is not more stupid!'
"'Hold!' cried the Duke, as the thief darted back up the tunnel.
"'Yes, Monsieur.' But our thief made no pause, and was heard running madly along the stone passage out of which we had just turned. 'Peste!' said the Duke. You will never see that rascal again. He will buy his own neck with ours. We shall do well to push on and leave no traces behind us.'
"'No,' said my mother, as we stood staring after the man. 'I know not why he went, but he will come again.' And so we waited, and some fifteen minutes went by. At last said Duke Philip, impatient, 'Did any one ever trust a thief, Madame? Pray remember at least that I am free from blame.' He was vexed.
"'A thief has been trusted before,' said my mother, in her quiet way.
"'That was for the next world, not this one. We shall regret.'
"'No,' laughed the dear lady; 'for here he is, Duke.'
"He came in quick, almost breathless haste, and hardly able to say, 'Oh, it was worth while, Madame. I have the bag of gold we left, and that brigand's clothes. That I should have left a bag of gold! I of all men!'
"'Diantre!' cried the Duke. 'What do you want with the clothes? Are we about to start a rag-shop? Come, we have lost time!'
"I heard our thief mutter as he fell in at the rear of the line, back of us boys: 'He has no imagination, that Duke. He would make no figure as a thief. Mon ami!' (that was to me), 'do you know the toughest job in the world?'