" I don't know, Madame," said he, in a most natural tone. "It is true that the dogs didn't bark. That is curious, indeed! "

"Did you let them loose last night? "

' ' Certainly I let them loose, as I do every night. That is curious! Yes, indeed! that is curious ! It must be that the robbers knew the house . . . and the dogs."

' ' "Well, Joseph, how is it that you, so devoted and punctual as a rule, did not hear anything? "

"It is true that I heard nothing. That is another singular thing. For I do not sleep soundly. If a cat crosses the garden, I hear it. It is not natural, all the same. And those confounded dogs especially ! Indeed, indeed ! ' '

Madame interrupted Joseph:

"Stop I Leave me in peace. You are brutes, all of you! And Marianne. Where is Marianne? Why isn't she here ? She is sleeping like a chump, undoubtedly. ' '

And, going out of the servants' hall, she called up the stairs:

' ' Marianne ! Marianne ! ' '

I looked at Joseph, who looked at the boxes. Joseph's face wore a grave expression. There was a sort of mystery in his eyes.

I will not try to describe this day, with all its varied incidents and follie