Humphrey Trail called himself all sorts of names as he stood in the shadow near the side entrance to the Saint FrÈre house that night. The sleet was changing into snow which gave no evidence of abating. Humphrey tied his scarf closer about his throat and shifted from one fat leg to the other. What a goose he was to come every evening and stand in the shadow of such a gloomy, proud-looking house just because he was interested in being of service to the proud boy who lived within it, and who, perhaps, did not care a ha’penny whether he stood there in the sleet and wind or not!

It was a fortnight since Humphrey had seen Lisle in the bakery shop and had given him the Saint Antoine address. He had not seen him since and he could only comfort himself with the thought that the boy knew where to find him. It was hard for Humphrey, as he knew so little of all that was going on and did not dare to ask questions of any one. Once he had seen the servant Henri coming out of the bakery shop with a package, but he had felt it wiser not to speak with him. Lisle had said that they did not know whether or not they could trust Henri. Humphrey’s heart warmed as he remembered how the lad had confided in him that night outside the bakery shop. It comforted him as he stood there in the storm. He had changed his position so that instead of facing the side of the house, he faced the front. It was not wise as a rule to do this, or so he had felt, because the position was too public and open, even in the darkness, but to-night the blizzardy snow made it safe enough.

Poor Humphrey, how his heart thumped when suddenly voices caught his ear! He had no time to be alarmed for himself or to do more than stand close to the wall when these words reached him: “The door by the basement steps.” Then followed a sentence or two which Humphrey could not understand. Then he heard the words, “The girl!”

Two figures made their way down the side street, away from the house. Humphrey watched them until they were out of sight. Then, looking back at the great mansion, he saw that the entrance door was being opened by some one who seemed to find the process difficult, and the next moment a little girl peered out into the storm. She glanced up and down the street, trying, evidently in vain, to distinguish something besides the swirling snow. Then she went inside, and the heavy door closed behind her.

Humphrey at all times found it difficult to think quickly, but he knew that he must do so this one time. He could only surmise, from the few words which he had overheard, that Lisle had been seen in the cellar, or was to be decoyed there. The incident of the little girl’s coming to the door, as though in search of some one, convinced him that she was looking for Lisle. He thought he had recognized Henri in one of the men who had passed by him, but he was not sure. He wondered why they had gone away from the house, instead of entering it. He was thankful that they had not done so, but the fact was borne in upon him that Lisle had been abducted either by the men whom he had seen or by their accomplices. He felt fairly sure that they would return for Rosanne and, as he walked rapidly around the side of the house, he tried to think what it was best to do.

He found to his relief that the cellar door was open, and he slipped inside and made his way to the staircase, stumbling over the wood that Lisle had dropped. He climbed the stairs cautiously and passed quickly down the long corridors, pausing when he came to the great entrance hall. A door at one side stood open, and he could see a spacious, candle-lit room beyond. It was the salon, and as he entered it he saw the little girl standing by the fireplace. As he started to cross the room, he spoke so as not to startle her too much.

“Tha has nought to fear, little lady. 'Tis Humphrey Trail, and Monsieur Lisle has spoken of tha to me!” he said.

It was wise of Humphrey to speak so to Rosanne, for, instead of fear, she felt relief at once, and ran across the room to meet him, saying eagerly: “Where is Lisle? Yes, he spoke of you last night. He said he trusted you out of all Paris. He went to the cellar for wood quite awhile ago. He said to stay here, and I did for such a long time. Then I went to the hall and called him. He did not come, so I opened the front door and looked out. Where is Lisle, Humphrey Trail?” Rosanne’s voice broke as she put this question to the farmer, and she had to try very hard not to cry.

Humphrey beamed upon her, and there was something so reassuring in his smile that Rosanne smiled, too, through her tears. “Tha’ll be a brave lass for his sake and the sake of those tha hold dear. I’ll give my life to find tha lad, but now tha must come with me as quick as ever tha can. Tha must trust Humphrey Trail. If th’art not a brave girl, I canna help tha!”

While he was speaking Humphrey had gathered up a heavy, velvet drapery which lay across the inlaid mother-of-pearl table near the fireplace, and before Rosanne could think he had wrapped it around her. “The cold is bitter. I’ll hold tha close,” he said.

He lifted Rosanne in his arms and glanced back at the shadowy doorway. She put both her arms around him and looked up at him, her bewildered brown eyes shining bravely.

“I’m not afraid, Humphrey Trail, and I do trust you. You’ll take me to Lisle, won’t you? You’ll promise to find Lisle for me!” she said. He nodded and whispered:

“I’ll try!”

He moved cautiously across the room and when he reached the hall he paused, putting up his hand to warn Rosanne not to speak. He thought that he had heard a sound. As he stood there, holding Rosanne closely wrapped in the blue velvet table cover, he saw the front door open slowly, and he knew that those who had taken Lisle away had come back for Rosanne. He knew, too, that a great deal depended on her, and he spoke quietly in her ear.

“Tha has nought to fear. I know well how to take tha away but tha must not cry out, lass, not for a’ the world!” Rosanne nodded her head for answer, and Humphrey crept with her along the hall, keeping in the shadow until he came to the turn which took them down the long corridor. He began to run when he had turned the corner, and he did not stop until he reached the top of the cellar stairs. He knew that the men would find out at once that Rosanne was not in the salon and would begin to hunt for her. They might think that she had gone to the cellar to look for Lisle, knowing that he had gone there for wood, and they would follow. He was right.

It was necessary to take the steep stairs carefully, for it was very dark, and there were deep, worn places, like holes, in the stone steps. He nearly fell once, and had to stop to steady himself for a moment and to get his breath before he could go on. When he reached the bottom of the stairs, he listened intently but heard no sound except the scurry of rats in the wall near them; so, lifting Rosanne to his shoulder and wrapping the table cover more closely about her, he went swiftly across the cellar and through the half-open door, out into the winter night.

He kept well in the shadow of the great house until he came to the side street, and then he started to run. As we know, he was short and fat, and Rosanne was not a very light weight. He kept up a sort of jogging trot, and, finally, feeling sure now that no one was pursuing them, he began to walk. The snow was so dense that he had little fear of being noticed by passers-by, and every now and then he stopped to rest. Once when he stopped Rosanne’s voice reached him from under the velvet mantle.

“I can walk quite well in spite of the storm, Humphrey Trail,” she said, but he answered:

“T’is wiser this way, lass. Th’art indeed a brave enough lass.”

Humphrey’s heart was sorely troubled. There was only one place that he could take Rosanne, and that was to his lodgings in the alley! He felt very helpless as they came into the rue Saint Antoine. The street seemed dreary and dingy, even through the lovely falling snow. He had come to Paris for the first holiday in all his work-a-day farmer’s life and one after another adventures had come to him, and with them the need to think and plan.

There was no time just then to think or plan, at least not until they were safe indoors. Humphrey, in spite of the storm, turned the right number of corners and reached the alley in safety. Once inside the door of his poor abode he placed Rosanne gently on her feet.

“Listen, little lady. This is but a poor place I bring tha to, poor indeed and cold, but it is safe and if tha can be brave and bear with it, tha will be helping me to find Master Lisle.” Humphrey spoke very earnestly, and Rosanne, although she could not see his face in the darkness of the chill hall, knew that he was waiting anxiously for her answer.

“I shall try to be brave so that you can find Lisle, Humphrey Trail,” she answered, and, putting her hand in his broad hard one, mounted the rickety staircase with him.

Humphrey opened the door on the first landing and called “Vivi.” A voice answered eagerly:

“Yes, yes!”

Humphrey came into the room with Rosanne’s hand in his. He closed the door and walked with Rosanne over to the window where Vivi was standing with Minuit in her arms. The two girls stared at each other. Vivi looked the longest, but it was not because she was any more surprised than Rosanne; it was only because Rosanne had been taught that it was not right to show one’s surprise too much, or to stare too openly at any one.

“Who is that?” Vivi asked, pointing at Rosanne over the dark curve of Minuit’s lean body.

Before he could answer Rosanne looked up at Humphrey and exclaimed:

“She’s a little like Marie Josephine! It’s odd, but she is!”

When Rosanne said this Humphrey felt a sudden great relief. Little Vivi would help him. He had not thought of that before. The two girls would help each other, each in her own way, lonely Vivi and lonely Rosanne, and in his big heart Humphrey vowed that he would take care of both of them.

“This is a new friend for you and Minuit, Vivi,” he answered. “She is cold and tired and she is lonely, too. Sit close by her here on the cot while I make up the fire. You should not have let it go out for I left you plenty of wood!”

Vivi and Rosanne sat down on the cot, glancing shyly at each other. Minuit sat on Vivi’s knee and looked distrustfully at Rosanne, who stroked his bony back timidly.

Humphrey went over to the rude fireplace, and after some puffing of his fat cheeks, and shoving of paper here and there, started a good blaze. When the wood was burning nicely he put a very small shovelful of coal on top of it. Then he came back and spoke to the two children on the cot.

“Listen well to what I say, please, tha in particular, Miss Rosanne, as, perhaps, I’d best be calling tha. Vivi does not understand much that I say. I am going abroad now for food. I may be back within a half hour. Th’art to bolt the door after me when I go, and th’art not to let any one in but me. Tha will know me because I’ll say 'Buns’ very loud outside the door. Tell Vivi what I have said to thee. Tell her she must na open to any one!”

Rosanne promised. “I’ll not let any one in who does not say 'Buns,’” she assured him, and again, to his relief, he saw that she was smiling. He went out and waited on the top stair until he heard the bolt turn.

Because of the unusual and exciting turn of events, Humphrey for once had not brought food to Vivi. He would buy the food now and go back with it to the girls. Then he would go up to his own room and think. He must have an hour to think, to consider, to plan. Rosanne de SoignÉ would be safe enough that night with Vivi, and they both would be warm and fed. He thought Rosanne might be safe there for some time. The next all important problem was Lisle Saint FrÈre, the boy with the proud face, who had told him that he trusted him out of all Paris! To find out who were his captors, to find where they had hidden him, to rescue him, and to bring him to safety—these were the things above all others that he must do. He would think out what was the best thing to do during the snowy night, while the rats scudded back and forth in the walls of the dark alley and the two girls slept cuddled close together in the room below, covered with the blue velvet table cover and the piece of torn sacking.

Rosanne would wake in the morning to find herself in the cold gloom of a poor tenement, but that night she had been too dazed and tired to take stock of her surroundings. She had eaten the bread which Humphrey had brought, and with it a piece of cheese. She had sat close to the fire with Vivi, and she had seen Vivi looking at her with the big, astonished black eyes that somehow were like Marie Josephine’s. The whole event of the evening had taken place so suddenly and unexpectedly. She and Lisle had been cosily roasting chestnuts by the fire one moment, and the next moment, so it seemed, he was gone, and Humphrey Trail had come and carried her off! It all seemed like a dream to her that evening, and she felt as though she would wake up at any moment. The dirty, dark room and the quiet, staring little girl did not seem real. But she liked Vivi and after the two girls had smiled at each other, they felt somehow like friends. Rosanne was very glad indeed that Vivi was there. She put her arm around Vivi, who sleepily did the same. Then she fell asleep and dreamt that she was running along the south terrace at Les Vignes with Marie Josephine and that the lilies were in bloom all along the way.