the help of his handkerchief,
made a primitive plaster to stanch the bleeding of his ear. As he was
so engaged, the sound of wheels slowly climbing the hill became audible
from the direction of the village.

"You see," he went on, "you can't return to the village--you are on too
good terms with the police. Let me advise you to go to Sasellano; the
flood will be falling by now, and I should n't wonder if we could find
you a means of conveyance." He jerked his thumb over his shoulder
towards the road behind him.

"I can't go back to the village?" demanded Guillaume, sullenly.

"In my turn I must beg you to remember that I now carry a revolver.
Come, M. Guillaume, we 've played a close hand, but the odd trick 's
mine. Go back and tell your employers not to waste their time on me.
No, nor their money. They have won the big stake; let them be content.
And again let me remind you that Paul de Roustache has your twenty
thousand francs. I don't think you 'll get them from him, but you
might. From me you 'll get nothing; and if you try the law--oh, think,
my friend, how very silly you and your Government will look!"

As he spoke he went up to Guillaume and took him by the arm, exerting a
friendly and persuasive pressure, under which Guillaume presently found
himself mounting the eminence. The wheels sounded nearer now, and
Dieppe's ears were awake to their movements. The pair began to walk
down the other side of the slope towards the Cross, and the carriage
came into their view. It was easy of identification: its broken-down,
lopsided top marked it beyond mistake.

An instant later Dieppe recognised the burly figure of the driver, who
was walking by his horses' heads.

"Wonderfully convenient!" he exclaimed. "This fellow will carry you to
Sasellano without delay."

Guillaume did not--indeed could not--refuse to obey the prompting of
the Captain's arm, but he grumbled as he went.

"I made sure of getting your papers," he said.

"Unlooked-for difficulties will arise, my dear M. Guillaume."

"I thought the reward was as good as in my pocket."

"The reward?" The Captain stopped and looked in his companion's face
with some amusement and a decided air of gratification. "There was a
reward? Oh, I am important, it seems!"

"Five thousand francs," said Guillaume, sullenly.

"They rate me rather cheap," exclaimed the Captain, his face falling.
"I should have hoped for five-and-twenty."

"Would you? If it h