escort you as far as the village. But
what's the time?"

He took out his watch and held it down to the flame of the candle; the
lady rose and looked, not over his shoulder, but just round his elbow.

"Ah, that's curious," observed the Captain, regarding the hands of his
watch. "How quickly the time has gone!"

"Very. But why is it curious?" she asked.

He glanced down at her face, mischievously turned up to his.

"Well, it's not curious," he admitted, "but it is awkward."

"It's only just seven."

"Precisely the hour of my appointment with Paul de Roustache."

"With Paul de Roustache?"

"Don't trouble yourself. All will be well."

"What appointment? Where are you to meet him?"

"By the Cross, on the road outside there."

"Heavens! If I were to meet him! He must n't see me!"

"Certainly not," agreed the Captain with cheerful confidence.

"But how are we to avoid--?"

"Ah, you put no real trust in me," murmured he in gentle reproach, and,
it must be added, purely for the sake of gaining a moment's reflection.

"Could n't we walk boldly by him?" she suggested.

"He would recognise you to a certainty, even if he didn't me."

"Recognise me? Oh, I don't know. He does n't know me very well."

"What?" said the Captain, really a little astonished this time.

"And there 's the rain and--and the night and--and all that," she
murmured in some confusion.

"No man who has ever seen you--" began the Captain.

"Hush! What's that?" whispered she, grasping his arm nervously. The
Captain, recalled to the needs of the situation, abandoned his
compliment, or argument, whichever it was, and listened intently.

There were voices outside the hut, some little way off, seeming to come
from above, as though the speakers were on the crest of the hill. They
were audible intermittently, but connectedly enough, as though their
owners waited from time to time for a lull in the gusty wind before
they spoke.

"Hold the lantern here. Why, it's past seven! He ought to be here by
now."

"We 've searched every inch of the ground."

"That's Paul de Roustache," whispered the Captain.

"Perhaps he 's lying down out of the storm somewhere. Shall we shout?"

"Oh, if you like--but you risk being overheard. I 'm tired of the job."

"The ground dips here. Come, we must search the hollow. You must earn
your reward, M. de Roustache."

The lady pressed Dieppe's arm. "I can't go now," she whispered.

"I 'm willin