e no... you were only telling the devil your mind... eh?"

"I had also been having conversation with Lady Blakeney.... Pray did you
hear any of that, sir?"

But Sir Percy had evidently not heard the question, for he seemed quite
absorbed in the task of removing a speck of dust from his immaculate
chapeau-bras.

"These hats are all the rage in England just now," he said airily, "but
they have had their day, do you not think so, Monsieur? When I return
to town, I shall have to devote my whole mind to the invention of a new
headgear..."

"When will you return to England, Sir Percy?" queried Chauvelin with
good-natured sarcasm.

"At the turn of the tide to-morrow eve, Monsieur," replied Blakeney.

"In company with Lady Blakeney?"

"Certainly, sir... and yours if you will honour us with your company."

"If you return to England to-morrow, Sir Percy, Lady Blakeney, I fear
me, cannot accompany you."

"You astonish me, sir," rejoined Blakeney with an exclamation of genuine
and unaffected surprise. "I wonder now what would prevent her?"

"All those whose death would be the result of her flight, if she
succeeded in escaping from Boulogne..."

But Sir Percy was staring at him, with wide open eyes expressive of
utmost amazement.

"Dear, dear, dear.... Lud! but that sounds most unfortunate..."

"You have not heard of the measures which I have taken to prevent Lady
Blakeney quitting this city without our leave?"

"No, Monsieur Chaubertin... no... I have heard nothing..." rejoined Sir
Percy blandly. "I lead a very retired life when I come abroad and..."

"Would you wish to hear them now?"

"Quite unnecessary, sir, I assure you... and the hour is getting
late..."

"Sir Percy, are you aware of the fact that unless you listen to what I
have to say, your wife will be dragged before the Committee of Public
Safety in Paris within the next twenty-four hours?" said Chauvelin
firmly.

"What swift horses you must have, sir," quoth Blakeney pleasantly. "Lud!
to think of it!... I always heard that these demmed French horses would
never beat ours across country."

But Chauvelin now would not allow himself to be ruffled by Sir Percy's
apparent indifference. Keen reader of emotions as he was, he had
not failed to note a distinct change in the drawly voice, a sound
of something hard and trenchant in the flippant laugh, ever since
Marguerite's name was first mentioned. Blakeney's attitude was
apparently as careless, as audacio