"Don't be afraid, sir. I saw the war of '70," said Firmin boldly,
rising to the occasion.

"Good!" said the millionaire. "I confide the chateau to you. I trust
you with my treasures."

He rose, and saying "Come along, we must be getting to the station,"
he led the way to the door of the chateau.

The luggage-cart stood rather high, and they had to bring a chair
out of the hall to enable the girls to climb into it. Germaine did
not forget to give her real opinion of the advantages of a seat
formed by a plank resting on the sides of the cart. The millionaire
climbed heavily up in front, and took the reins.

"Never again will I trust only to motor-cars. The first thing I'll
do after I've made sure that my collections are safe will be to buy
carriages--something roomy," he said gloomily, as he realized the
discomfort of his seat.

He turned to Jean and Firmin, who stood on the steps of the chateau
watching the departure of their master, and said: "Sons of France,
be brave--be brave!"

The cart bumped off into the damp, dark night.

Jean and Firmin watched it disappear into the darkness. Then they
came into the chateau and shut the door.

Firmin looked at Jean, and said gloomily: "I don't like this. These