ape been kept, that I
am wondering what devilry that brute Heron can be after. And now no more
chattering," he continued lightly; "all to horse, and you, Hastings,
have a care. The destinies of France, mayhap, will be lying asleep in
your arms."

"But you, Blakeney?" exclaimed the three men almost simultaneously.

"I am not going with you. I entrust the child to you. For God's sake
guard him well! Ride with him to Mantes. You should arrive there at
about ten o'clock. One of you then go straight to No.9 Rue la Tour. Ring
the bell; an old man will answer it. Say the one word to him, 'Enfant';
he will reply, 'De roi!' Give him the child, and may Heaven bless you
all for the help you have given me this night!"

"But you, Blakeney?" reiterated Tony with a note of deep anxiety in his
fresh young voice.

"I am straight for Paris," he said quietly.

"Impossible!"

"Therefore feasible."

"But why? Percy, in the name of Heaven, do you realise what you are
doing?"

"Perfectly."

"They'll not leave a stone unturned to find you--they know by now,
believe me, that your hand did this trick."

"I know that."

"And yet you mean to go back?"

"And yet I am going back."

"Blakeney!"

"It's no use, Tony. Armand is in Paris. I saw him in the corridor of the
Temple prison in the company of Chauvelin."

"Great God!" exclaimed Lord Hastings.

The others were silent. What was the use of arguing? One of themselves
was in danger. Armand St. Just, the brother of Marguerite Blakeney! Was
it likely that Percy would leave him in the lurch.

"One of us will stay with you, of course?" asked Sir Andrew after
awhile.

"Yes! I want Hastings and Tony to take the child to Mantes, then to make
all possible haste for Calais, and there to keep in close touch with the
Day-Dream; the skipper will contrive to open communication. Tell him to
remain in Calais waters. I hope I may have need of him soon.

"And now to horse, both of you," he added gaily. "Hastings, when you
are ready, I will hand up the child to you. He will be quite safe on the
pillion with a strap round him and you."

Nothing more was said after that. The orders were given, there was
nothing to do but to obey; and the uncrowned King of France was not
yet out of danger. Hastings and Tony led two of the horses out of the
spinney; at the roadside they mounted, and then the little lad for whose
sake so much heroism, such selfless devotion had been expended, was
hoisted up, s