"Good-night, and bon voyage, Mademoiselle Sonia," said the Duke.

"Good-night, and bon voyage, your Grace," said Sonia.

The Duke opened the door of the hall for her; and as she went out,
she said anxiously, in a low voice: "Oh, do--do be careful. I hate
to think of your hurrying to Paris on a night like this. Please be
careful."

"I will be careful," said the Duke.

The honk of the motor-horn told him that Jean had brought the car to
the door of the chateau. He came down the room, kissed Germaine's
hands, shook hands with the millionaire, and bade them good-night.
Then he went out to the car. They heard it start; the rattle of it
grew fainter and fainter down the long avenue and died away.

M. Gournay-Martin arose, and began putting out lamps. As he did so,
he kept casting fearful glances at the window, as if he feared lest,
now that the Duke had gone, the burglars should dash in upon him.

There came a knock at the door, and Jean appeared on the threshold.

"His Grace told me that I was to come into the house, and help
Firmin look after it," he said.

The millionaire gave him instructions about the guarding of the
house. Firmin, since he was an old soldier, was to occupy the post
of honour, and guard the hall, armed with his gun. Jean was to guard