Alice Roussillon and Father Beret are not all the French in
Vincennes?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean that I don't for a moment believe that either the girl or the
priest knows a thing about where that flag is. They are both as
truthful and honorable as people ever get to be. I know them. Somebody
else got that flag from under the priest's floor. You may depend upon
that. If Miss Roussillon knew where it is she'd say so, and then dare
you to make her tell where it's hidden."

"Oh, the whole devilish town is rotten with treason; that's very clear.
There's not a loyal soul in it outside of my forces."

"Thank you for not including me among the loyalists."

"Humph, I spoke of these French people; they pretend to be true; but I
believe they are all traitors."

"You can manage them if you try. A little jolly kindness goes a long
way with 'em. _I_ had no trouble while _I_ held the town."

Hamilton bit his lip and was silent. Helm was exasperatingly good
tempered, and his jocularity was irresistible. While he was yet
speaking a guard came up followed by Jean, the hunchback, and saluting
said to Hamilton:

"The lad wants to see the young lady, sir."

Hamilton gazed quizzically at Jean, who planted himself in his habitual
attitude before him and stared up into his face with the grotesque
expression which seems to be characteristic of hunchbacks and unfledged
birds--the look of an embodied and hideous joke.

"Well, sir, what will you have?" the Governor demanded.

"I want to see Alice, if you please."

"What for?"

"I want to give her a book to read."

"Ah, indeed. Where is it? Let me see it."

Jean took from the breast of his loose jerkin a small volume, dog-eared
and mildewed, and handed it to Hamilton. Meantime he stood first on one
foot, then the other, gnawing his thumb-nail and blinking rapidly.

"Well, Helm, just look here!"

"What?"

"Manon Lescaut."

"And what's that?"

"Haven't you ever read it?"

"Read what?"

"This novel--Manon Lescaut."

"Never read a novel in my life. Never expect to."

Hamilton laughed freely at Helm's expense, then turned to Jean and gave
him back the book.

It would have been quite military, had he taken the precaution to
examine between the pages for something hidden there, but he did not.

"Go, give it to her," he said, "and tell her I send my compliments,
with great admiration of her taste in literature." He motioned the
soldier to show Jean to Alice. "It's