h other in Jacques de Wissant's brain. But
whether he had been right or wrong it was too late to alter now.

He went into the room where the Admiral stood waiting for him.

The two men shook hands, but neither spoke till they had left the house.
Then, as they walked with firm, quick steps across the deserted
market-place, the Admiral said suddenly, "This is the quietest hour in
the twenty-four, and though I anticipate a little trouble with the
journalists, I think everything will go off quite well."

His companion muttered a word of assent, and the other went on, this
time in a gruff whisper: "By the way, I have had to tell Dr. Tarnier--"
and as Jacques de Wissant gave vent to a stifled exclamation of
dismay--"of course I had to tell Dr. Tarnier! He has most nobly offered
to go down into the _Neptune_ alone--though in doing so he will run
considerable personal risk."

Admiral de Saint Vilquier paused a moment, for the quick pace at which
his companion was walking made him rather breathless. "I have simply
told him that there was a young woman on board. He imagines her to have
been a Parisienne,--a person of no importance, you understand,--who had
come to spend the holiday with poor Dupre. But he quite realizes that
the fact must never be revealed." He spoke in a dry, matter-of-fact
tone. "There will not be room on the pontoon for more than five or six,
including ourselves and Dr. Tarnier. Doubtless some of our newspaper
friends will be disappointed--if one can speak of disappointment in such
a connection--but they will have plenty of opportunities of being
present to-morrow and the following nights. I have arranged with the
Minister of Marine for the work to be done only at night."

As the two men emerged on the quays, they saw that the news had leaked
out, for knots of people stood about, talking in low hushed tones, and
staring at the middle of the harbour.

Apart from the others, and almost dangerously close to the unguarded
edge below which was the dark lapping water, stood a line of women
shrouded in black, and from them came no sound.

As the Admiral and his companion approached the little group of
officials who were apparently waiting for them, the old naval officer
whispered to Jacques de Wissant, using for the first time the familiar
expression, "_mon ami_," "Do not forget, _mon ami_, to thank the
harbour-master and the pilot. They have had a very difficult task, and
they will expect your commendation."