"I listen, sir."

"I have to send to England a communication of the utmost importance--
public importance--to the secret agent of the French government. We are
on the eve of a descent on England. We are in correspondence with some
in London on whom we count for support. A man might be suspected and
searched,--mind, searched. You, a boy, with English name and speech,
will be my safest envoy. Bonaparte approves my selection. On your
return, he permits me to present you to him. He loves the rising
generation. In a few days you will be prepared to start."

Despite the calm tone of the father, so had the son, from the instinct of
fear and self-preservation, studied every accent, every glance of
Olivier,--so had he constituted himself a spy upon the heart whose
perfidy was ever armed, that he detected at once in the proposal some
scheme hostile to his interests. He made, however, no opposition to the
plan suggested; and seemingly satisfied with his obedience, the father
dismissed him.

As soon as he was in the streets, Gabriel went straight to the house of
Madame Bellanger. The hotel had been purchased in her name, and she
therefore retained it. Since her husband's death he had avoided that
house, before so familiar to him; and now he grew pale and breathed hard
as he passed by the porter's lodge up the lofty stairs.

He knew of his father's recent and constant visits at the house; and
without conjecturing precisely what were Olivier's designs, he connected
them, in the natural and acquired shrewdness he possessed, with the
wealthy widow. He resolved to watch, observe, and draw his own
conclusions. As he entered Madame Bellanger's room rather abruptly, he