Mr. Quorn, calmly pocketing the letter and
returning his glasses to their case. "I'll take a run down to these
folks at once, and things being satisfactory there, I'll be at Captain
Fyffe's service any minute. If you've nothing better to do this
afternoon, captain, I'll run you down to Blackwall and show you what is
to be seen."

It was arranged that he should call for me between three and four
o'clock, and on that understanding he took his leave, retiring with many
flourishes and an assurance, specially addressed to Violet, that he was
flush on the cause of freedom anywhere and everywhere, the hull globe
over, and dead against them blasted Austrians anyhow.

"You must remember, my child," said the count, when we three were left
alone, "that you are spending a great sum of money in this enterprise,
that it may all be wasted, and that even if by your help The Cause
should win you can never hope to see one pound of your money back
again."

Violet had seated herself beside him at Mr. Quorn's departure, and now,
when he began to speak, she slid one arm about his neck and nestled
closely to him, with her ripe young cheek touching his grizzled and
lined old face.

"I have thought of all that, father," she answered. "I shouldn't care
much in any case what became of the money, for I shall have plenty left.
But if it were the last penny, you and Italy would be welcome to it."

"I know that, my dearest," the count answered; "but all the same I could
wish it were my own. You have not yet heard to-day's news?"

"No," she said, drawing a little away from him, in order that she might
look into his face. "What is it?"

"France is up!" he responded. "Louis Philippe has flown away, and is
either on the road here or here already."

"And that means?" she said.

"'Instant action," returned the count. "Action without one hour's
unnecessary delay."

"Tell me," she said, "exactly what it means."

"We have called a meeting for to-night," said the count, "and until that
is held I can tell you nothing final. But you have a right to know my
own design. We can really do nothing practical until we are armed. But I
shall propose to quit England to-morrow. I shall leave Captain Fyffe to
the negotiations with Quorn, and shall arrange for communications across
the frontier, which will enable me to judge of the best place and the
wisest hour for an attack. I shall go alone, because I wish to excite as
little notice as possible."

"You m