rgent
counsel. He was weary of delay and planning an appeal to the
French government. General Brown was prepared to give the matter
all furtherance in his power, and sent quickly for the Englishman.
They brought him over at nine o'clock. We uncovered his eyes and
locked the door, and "gave him a crack at the old Madeira," as they
used to say, and made him as comfortable as might be at the cheery
fireside of the general.

"I've been thinking," said his Lordship. after a drink and a word
of courtesy. I never saw a man of better breeding or more courage,
I am free to say. "You may not agree it is possible, but, anyhow,
I have been trying to think. You have been decent to me. I don't
believe you are such a bad lot, after all; and while I should be
sorry to have you think me tired of your hospitality, I desire to
hasten our plans a little. I propose an exchange of--of--"

He hesitated, whipping the ashes off his cigar.

"Well--first of confidence," he went on. "I will take your word if
you will take mine."

"In what matter?" the general inquired.

"That of the ladies and their relief," said he. "A little
confidence will--will--"

"Grease the wheels of progress?" the general suggested, smiling.

"Quite so," he answered lazily. "To begin with, they are not
thirty miles away, if I am correct in my judgment of this locality."

There was a moment of silence.

"My _dear_ sir," he went on presently, "this ground is quite
familiar to me. I slept in this very chamber long ago. But that
is not here nor there. Day after to-morrow, a little before
midnight, the ladies will be riding on the shore pike. You could
meet them and bring them out to a schooner, I suppose--if--"

He stopped again, puffing thoughtfully.

"If we could agree," he went on. "Now this would be my view of it:
You let me send a messenger for the ladies. You would have to take
them by force somehow; but, you know, I could make it easy--arrange
the time and place, no house near, no soldiers, no resistence but
that of the driver, who should not share our confidence--no danger.
You take them to the boats and bring them over; but, first--"

He paused again, looking at the smokerings above his head in a
dreamy manner.

"'First,'" my chief repeated.

"Well," said he, leaning toward him with a little gesture, "to me
the word of a gentleman is sacred. I know you are both gentlemen.
I ask for your word of honor."

"To what effect?" the gen