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He looked down at it doubtfully, with a shrug of the shoulders

"Pardieu! I would ask certain questions first," he said with greater show of seriousness "For how long a tie? It will prove soth of li to hold up the lid for him to enter "Yet I know of no other possiblehalted by the guard at the door There is no certainty in this, yet there is a chance, Chevalier, and that ought always to be invitation to a brave man Beyond this it is God's affair"

The soldier twisted his longin the eyes that frontedforward in sudden resolution "As you say itinto a coffin three sizes too small for the deceased Still I 'll bide therein for a while, only, I warn you, you better be easy when you put me down, or the corpse may furnish a sudden resurrection"

It proved truly no easy task to stow him safely in that contracted space At any other ti the final result of our combined efforts, especially at the expression, half ludicrous, half pathetic, upon his face as he gazed up at me just before the lid was closed

"Now ravely, for had I ventured upon a smile at his predicaain, "you are to make no movement of any kind until left alone When certain of that you may venture out of the chest, but reain"

"You believe you knoay?"

"Under God's guidance yes, if you will only bear your part"

Without pausing for his answer I dropped the heavy cover over hih of relief

So far, at least I had won; thus far the gods had favored me In spite of the obstacle of temperament I had found means to attain my end, to work my will, yet I realized well De Noyan would never bear such unco; whatever was to be accomplished must be done quickly Fortunately my plan, dim and doubtful as it was, had already taken outline I had determined what to endeavor; it must be atteone forever Pulling the hood acrossout upon the curious sentry To my relief he was alone