, so long as she
doesn't know that they're married, and nobody does know that yet except
you and me. Not that I'd be inclined to trust Aunt Juliet unless we have
to; but it's a comfort to know she's there if the worst comes to the
worst."

"What do you intend to do?" said Frank.

"Find them first. If we start off early tomorrow well probably get to
Curraunbeg before they're up. My idea would be to hand over the young
man to Miss Rutherford for a day or two. She's sure to be somewhere
about and when she understands the circumstances she won't mind
pretending that he, the original spy, I mean, is her husband, just for a
while, until the first rancour of the pursuit has died away. She strikes
me as an awfully good sort who won't mind. She may even like it Some
people love being married. I can't imagine why; but they do. Anyhow
I don't expect there'll be any difficulty about that part of the
programme. We'll simply tranship him, tent and all, into Jimmy
Kinsella's boat."

"I don't see the good of doing all that," said Frank.

"Why not----?"

"The good of it is this. We must keep Aunt Juliet on our side in case
of accidents. She's got a most acute mind and will throw all kinds of
obstacles in the way of the pursuers. As long as she thinks that
Miss Torrington--Lady Isabel, I mean--is really going in for leading a
beautiful scarlet kind of life of her own; but if she once finds out
that she's gone and got married to a man, any man, even one who can't
manage a boat, she'll be keener than any one else to have her dragged
back."

"What do you mean to do with her?" said Frank.

"We'll plant her down on Inishbawn. That's the safest place in the whole
bay for her to be. Of course Joseph Antony Kinsella will object; but
we'll make him see that it's his duty to succor the oppressed, and
anyhow we'll land her there and leave her. I don't exactly know what it
is that they're doing on that island, though I can guess. But whatever
it is you may bet your hat they won't let Lord Torrington or the police
or any one of that kind within a mile of it. If once we get her
there she's safe from her enemies. Every man, woman and child in the
neighbourhood will combine to keep that sanctuary--bother! there's a word
which exactly expresses what a sanctuary is kept; but I've forgotten
what it is. I came across it once in a book and looked it out in the
dict. to see what it meant. It's used about sanctuaries and secrets. Do
you remember what