reases with
loving care.

"I am quite prepared to sign the order for your release, Lady Blakeney,"
he said, keeping his gaze still keenly fixed upon Sir Percy. "When it
is signed you will understand that our measures against the citizens of
Boulogne will no longer hold good, and that on the contrary, the general
amnesty and free pardon will come into force."

"Yes, I understand that," she replied.

"And all that will come to pass, Lady Blakeney, the moment Sir Percy
will write me in his own hand a letter, in accordance with the draft
which I have prepared, and sign it with his name.

"Shall I read it to you?" he asked.

"If you please."

"You will see how simple it all is.... A mere matter of form.... I pray
you do not look upon it with terror, but only as the prelude to that
general amnesty and free pardon, which I feel sure will satisfy the
philanthropic heart of the noble Scarlet Pimpernel, since three score at
least of the inhabitants of Boulogne will owe their life and freedom to
him."

"I am listening, Monsieur," she said calmly.

"As I have already had the honour of explaining, this little document
is in the form of a letter addressed personally to me and of course in
French," he said finally, and then he looked down on the paper and began
to read:

Citizen Chauvelin--

In consideration of a further sum of one million francs and on the
understanding that this ridiculous charge brought against me of
conspiring against the Republic of France is immediately withdrawn, and
I am allowed to return to England unmolested, I am quite prepared to
acquaint you with the names and whereabouts of certain persons who under
the guise of the League of the Scarlet Pimpernel are even now conspiring
to free the woman Marie Antoinette and her son from prison and to place
the latter upon the throne of France. You are quite well aware that
under the pretence of being the leader of a gang of English adventurers,
who never did the Republic of France and her people any real harm, I
have actually been the means of unmasking many a royalist plot before
you, and of bringing many persistent conspirators to the guillotine. I
am surprised that you should cavil at the price I am asking this time
for the very important information with which I am able to furnish you,
whilst you have often paid me similar sums for work which was a
great deal less difficult to do. In order to serve your government
effectually, both in England and in F