wn. Otherwise I shall
certainly have him shot. It is all in your hands, Mademoiselle. You can
tell me where the flag is." Hamilton smiled again with exquisite
cruelty.

Farnsworth stood by gazing upon Alice in open admiration. Her presence
had power in it, to which he was very susceptible.

"You look like a low, dishonorable, soulless tyrant," she said to
Hamilton, "and if you get my flag, how shall I know that you will keep
your promise and let Papa Roussillon go free?"

"I am sorry to say that you will have to trust me, unless you'll take
Captain Farnsworth for security. The Captain is a gentleman, I assure
you. Will you stand good for my veracity and sincerity, Captain
Farnsworth?"

The young man smiled and bowed.

Alice felt the irony; and her perfectly frank nature preferred to trust
rather than distrust the sincerity of others. She looked at Farnsworth,
who smiled encouragingly.

"The flag is under Father Beret's floor," she said.

"Under the church floor?"

"No, under the floor of his house."

"Where is his house?"

She gave full directions how to reach it.

"Untie the prisoner," Hamilton ordered, and it was quickly done.
"Monsieur Roussillon, I congratulate you upon your narrow escape. Go to
the priest's house, Monsieur, and bring me that flag. It would be well,
I assure you, not to be very long about it. Captain Farnsworth, you
will send a guard with Monsieur Roussillon, a guard of honor, fitting
his official dignity, a Corporal and two men. The honorable Mayor of
this important city should not go alone upon so important an errand. He
must have his attendants."

"Permit me to go myself and get it," said Alice, "I can do it quickly.
May I, please, Monsieur?"

Hamilton looked sharply at her.

"Why, certainly, Mademoiselle, certainly. Captain Farnsworth, you will
escort the young lady."

"It is not necessary, Monsieur."

"Oh, yes, it is necessary, my dear young lady, very necessary; so let's
not have further words. I'll try to entertain his honor, the Mayor,
while you go and get the flag. I feel sure, Mademoiselle, that you'll
return with it in a few minutes. But you must not go alone."

Alice set forth immediately, and Farnsworth, try as hard as he would,
could never reach her side, so swift was her gait.

When they arrived at Father Beret's cabin, she turned and said with
imperious severity:

"Don't you come in; you stay out here: I'll get it in a minute."

Farnsworth obeyed her comma