you after all."

"An exercise, my dear M. Chambertin, which must have wearied through
frequent repetition," retorted Blakeney with the same imperturbable
smile.

"The contingency at present is somewhat remote; when the time comes
we'll talk this matter over.... I will make no promise... and, anyhow,
we can discuss it later."

"At present we are but wasting our valuable time over so trifling a
matter.... If you'll excuse me, sir... I am so demmed fatigued--"

"Then you will be glad to have everything settled quickly, I am sure."

"Exactly, sir."

Heron was taking no part ill the present conversation. He knew that his
temper was not likely to remain within bounds, and though he had nothing
but contempt for his colleague's courtly manners, yet vaguely in his
stupid, blundering way he grudgingly admitted that mayhap it was better
to allow citizen Chauvelin to deal with the Englishman. There was always
the danger that if his own violent temper got the better of him, he
might even at this eleventh hour order this insolent prisoner to summary
trial and the guillotine, and thus lose the final chance of the more
important capture.

He was sprawling on a chair in his usual slouching manner with his
big head sunk between his broad shoulders, his shifty, prominent eyes
wandering restlessly from the face of his colleague to that of the other
man.

But now he gave a grunt of impatience.

"We are wasting time, citizen Chauvelin," he muttered. "I have still
a great deal to see to if we are to start at dawn. Get the d--d letter
written, and--"

The rest of the phrase was lost in an indistinct and surly murmur.
Chauvelin, after a shrug of the shoulders, paid no further heed to him;
he turned, bland and urbane, once more to the prisoner.

"I see with pleasure, Sir Percy," he said, "that we thoroughly
understand one another. Having had a few hours' rest you will, I know,
feel quite ready for the expedition. Will you kindly indicate to me the
direction in which we will have to travel?"

"Northwards all the way."

"Towards the coast?"

"The place to which we must go is about seven leagues from the sea."

"Our first objective then will be Beauvais, Amiens, Abbeville, Crecy,
and so on?"

"Precisely."

"As far as the forest of Boulogne, shall we say?"

"Where we shall come off the beaten track, and you will have to trust to
my guidance."

"We might go there now, Sir Percy, and leave you here."

"You might. But you w