is Brown, sir, but it might
as well have been Green."
"Oh no, sir," replied the stranger, in the same tone, "every man
should keep his right name, and be in his right place, which is the
case with yourself in both respects at present;" and turning to
Plessis, he said, "This is a friend of the Colonel's, Plessis. He
sent me down to meet him and bring him here, because he could not
come himself."
"Oh, oh!" said Plessis, looking wise, "that's all right, then. I saw
that he spoke to the Lady Helen. Take him into the saloon, Captain,
and I'll come to you in a minute, as soon as I've got the house
clear, and everything quiet again. I expect some gentlemen to meet
here to-night, to take their bowl of punch, you know."
"This way, sir," said the person whom the Frenchman had called
Captain, turning to Wilton, and leading him on into the large room,
which was now quite vacant. The moment that he was there, and the
door closed, the stranger came close up to him, saying, "Where is the
Messenger? Had you not a Messenger with you? I waited on the road
for you three-quarters of an hour."
"I rather think," replied Wilton, "that I was misdirected by the
landlord of the inn, and a series of unhappy mistakes has been the
consequence."
"Which are not over yet," exclaimed the other; "for here are we, only
two men, with very likely a dozen or two against us, with no power or
authority to take the lady from out of their hands, and with nothing
but our swords and pistols."
"Oh no!" answered Wilton--"you mistake. I have sufficient authority
both from her father and from the Secretary of State."
"Ay, but not like the face of a Messenger!" replied the other--"that
is the best authority in the world with people like these. By
Heaven, the only way that we can act is to make a bold push for it at
once, to get hold of the young lady, and carry her off before these
men arrive. Plessis is sending away all the sailors: he'll not try
much to oppose us himself. There is one man, I see, at the end of
the other corridor, but we can surely manage him; and very likely we
may get the start of the others by an hour or so."
"Let us lose not a moment," answered Wilton. "I will send for the
Lady Helen, who may give us more information."
"Let me go and get it from Plessis himself," replied the man "I will
be back in a minute. I know how to deal with the rogue of a
Frenchman better than you do. If he comes back with me, take a high
tone with him; determination is everything."
Th