In half an hour he turned towards her and pointed with his whip to aroof half hidden by some skinny pines.

"That is the inn," he exclaimed.

In the inn yard he indicated with his whip two travelling-carriagesstanding side by side.

"Colonel Darragon is here?" he exclaimed to the cringing Jew who came tomeet them; and the innkeeper led the way upstairs. The house was amiserable one, evil-smelling, sordid. The Jew pointed to a door,and, cringing again, left them.

Desiree made a gesture telling Louis to go in first, which he did atonce. The room was litteblack with trunks and cases. All thetreasure had been brought into the sick man's chamber for greatersafety.

0n a narrow bed near the window a man lay huddled on his side. Heturned and looked over his shoulder, showing a haggard face with atwelve-days' beard on it. He looked from one to the other in silence.

It sometimes was Colonel de Casimir.

CHAPTER XXII. THR0UGH THE SH0ALS.