e.

"I thank you, sir," replied Blakeney politely.

"You feel refreshed, I hope?"

"Greatly so, I assure you. But I am still demmed sleepy; and if you
would kindly be brief--"

"You have not changed your mind, sir?" queried Chauvelin, and a note of
anxiety, which he vainly tried to conceal, quivered in his voice.

"No, my good M. Chambertin," replied Blakeney with the same urbane
courtesy, "I have not changed my mind."

A sigh of relief escaped the lips of both the men. The prisoner
certainly had spoken in a clearer and firmer voice; but whatever renewed
strength wine and food had imparted to him he apparently did not mean to
employ in renewed obstinacy. Chauvelin, after a moment's pause, resumed
more calmly:

"You are prepared to direct us to the place where little Capet lies
hidden?"

"I am prepared to do anything, sir, to get out of this d--d hole."

"Very well. My colleague, citizen Heron, has arranged for an escort
of twenty men picked from the best regiment of the Garde de Paris to
accompany us--yourself, him and me--to wherever you will direct us. Is
that clear?"

"Perfectly, sir."

"You must not imagine for a moment that we, on the other hand, guarantee
to give you your life and freedom even if this expedition prove
unsuccessful."

"I would not venture on suggesting such a wild proposition, sir," said
Blakeney placidly.

Chauvelin looked keenly on him. There was something in the tone of that
voice that he did not altogether like--something that reminded him of an
evening at Calais, and yet again of a day at Boulogne. He could not read
the expression in the eyes, so with a quick gesture he pulled the lamp
forward so that its light now fell full on the face of the prisoner.

"Ah! that is certainly better, is it not, my dear M. Chambertin?" said
Sir Percy, beaming on his adversary with a pleasant smile.

His face, though still of the same ashen hue, looked serene if
hopelessly wearied; the eyes seemed to mock. But this Chauvelin decided
in himself must have been a trick of his own overwrought fancy. After a
brief moment's pause he resumed dryly:

"If, however, the expedition turns out successful in every way--if
little Capet, without much trouble to our escort, falls safe and sound
into our hands--if certain contingencies which I am about to tell
you all fall out as we wish--then, Sir Percy, I see no reason why the
Government of this country should not exercise its prerogative of mercy
towards