a of a national fete...
that pretty wench Candeille, dressed as a goddess... the boom of the
cannon when your amnesty comes into force.... You WILL boom the cannon,
will you not, Monsieur?... Cannon are demmed noisy, but they are
effective sometimes, do you not think so, Monsieur?"

"Very effective certainly, Sir Percy," sneered Chauvelin, "and we will
certainly boom the cannon from this very fort, an it so please you...."

"At what hour, Monsieur, is my letter to be ready?"

"Why! at any hour you please, Sir Percy."

"The 'Day-Dream' could weigh anchor at eight o'clock... would an hour
before that be convenient to yourself?"

"Certainly, Sir Percy... if you will honour me by accepting my
hospitality in these uncomfortable quarters until seven o'clock
to-morrow eve?..."

"I thank you, Monsieur..."

"Then am I to understand, Sir Percy, that..."

A loud and ringing laugh broke from Blakeney's lips.

"That I accept your bargain, man!... Zounds! I tell you I accept... I'll
write the letter, I'll sign it... an you have our free passes ready for
us in exchange.... At seven o'clock to-morrow eve, did you say?... Man!
do not look so astonished.... The letter, the signature, the money...
all your witnesses... have everything ready.... I accept, I say....
And now, in the name of all the evil spirits in hell, let me have some
supper and a bed, for I vow that I am demmed fatigued."

And without more ado Sir Percy once more rang the handbell, laughing
boisterously the while: then suddenly, with quick transition of mood,
his laugh was lost in a gigantic yawn, and throwing his long body onto
a chair, he stretched out his legs, buried his hands in his pockets, and
the next moment was peacefully asleep.

Chapter XXVIII: The Midnight Watch

Boulogne had gone through many phases, in its own languid and sleepy
way, whilst the great upheaval of a gigantic revolution shook other
cities of France to their very foundations.

At first the little town had held somnolently aloof, and whilst Lyons
and Tours conspired and rebelled, whilst Marseilles and Toulon opened
their ports to the English and Dunkirk was ready to surrender to
the allied forces, she had gazed through half-closed eyes at all the
turmoil, and then quietly turned over and gone to sleep again.

Boulogne fished and mended nets, built boats and manufactured boots
with placid content, whilst France murdered her king and butchered her
citizens.

The initial