The Mystery of the Lost Dauphin Part 16

"Well, tell the Marquis he and his party may come."

"I have received another application for pa.s.sage," said the captain, "which I have refused."

"From whom?"

"From a gentleman bearing a marvelous resemblance to our countryman, the Viscount Chateaubriand. He has a stout fellow with him who must be his valet."

The Carbonari flashed a look at one another.

"How long since did he ask you?"

"Not five minutes ago; I was jumping from my sloop. He wears a long traveling cloak and a broad winged hat."

"Well, run up to number 10," said Giacinto. "He is there. Call out roughly, saying that two pa.s.sengers have failed you at the eleventh hour and that you may now carry him and his servant. Demand a high price and simulate avarice. Be cautious. The man is a reader of faces."

"Suppose he asks which is to be the first landing place?"

"Say Dieppe, adding that he may be put off at Calais, Havre or Cherbourg if he prefer and pay well for the privilege. Act as tho your object were to exploit him." And Giacinto's face glowed with hatred. "And if he asks the hour of departure, say midnight and that he must be at the wharf by eleven, where the sloop will await him."

"I shall do as you say. Is that all?"

"I think not, indeed. Is your crew to be trusted?"

"In what sense?" asked the astonished captain.

"Will they keep mum about whatever takes place on board?"

"My men are absolutely to be trusted."

"Very well," said Louis Pierre, "I shall board the sloop at dusk and remain upon her until the gentleman and his servant arrive. You must have a sailor's dress ready for me, for I shall help run the sloop. You must be there also, Captain."

"Very well," said Soliviac.

"Are you ready to go all lengths?" asked Giacinto.

The captain's frank, genial countenance became clouded. Corsair as he was and accustomed to b.l.o.o.d.y adventures, he hesitated before the executive justice of the Knights of Liberty, for he knew their vengeance to be terrible. But raising his head, he said:

"All lengths."

"Captain," said Giacinto, "the man we track is worse than a wolf. He merits a thousand deaths and we shall give him only one. If you desert us, we shall consider that you cease to be a Knight. Nevertheless, we shall take the matter into our own hands and trust you not to betray us."

"Do you think I have joined the Knights to play the coward at the first test? I unconditionally agree to your proposition. And now, what of the other pa.s.sengers?"

"Arrange that they board before or after Volpetti."

Soliviac bowed.

Meanwhile, the Marquis's eye was applied to the keyhole of Volpetti's chamber, and watched that gentleman arrange his belongings. His wallet and toilet case lay near. Rene reflected that his treasure might be in either. Soon he was undeceived for he heard Volpetti say to Brosseur:

"Where is it?"

"Around my neck," and the valet pointed to a cord just visible above his collar. Rene could scarcely contain himself as a prospect of swift vengeance seemed near and he clutched Amelie's hand as she stood back of him, erect and self-possessed.

Chapter IV

MINE AND COUNTERMINE

A more circ.u.mspect man than Rene would have retired from the keyhole after ascertaining this information, but he was transported into remaining. Just then Soliviac entered by the main door offering to take the Count and his valet to France on the Polipheme. His intention was to land at Dieppe, he remarked, unless Monsieur preferred some other port, in which case--

He played his part well. Volpetti fell into the snare and requested to be put off at Havre, offering a good sum for the privilege.

"Providence has delivered this man into my hands," exclaimed Rene, overjoyed.

Volpetti agreed to be aboard by midnight, and on the departure of Soliviac, continued his preparations for the journey. He instructed Brosseur to have supper brought up to him, adding:

"Keep your ears open to what is said in the kitchen."

Soliviac was, meanwhile, being instructed by the Carbonari to take the Marquis and his friends aboard at an early hour. The captain accordingly sought Rene, informing him of what time he was expected. The Marquis answered:

"The Irish gentleman and lady will be at the ship by that hour, Soliviac. But I am not certain of going. If I do, I shall get to your vessel by means of a small skiff."

The Carbonari frowned when Soliviac repeated these words to them. Louis Pierre remarked:

"Deeper springs than love move the Marquis."

"I warned him," said Soliviac, "that he must be on time, else the Polipheme would sail without him, and he answered that he did not imagine that the vessel would leave before midnight."

The Carbonari exchanged a keen glance, and Giacinto said:

"Let him do as he is minded, but keep your eyes open. This is to be our program: I remain ash.o.r.e to track Volpetti and his servant. You, Captain, and Louis Pierre will be aboard the sloop. If Breze happens to see us and asks to be taken aboard, he must be refused, on pretext of lack of room. Now, each man to his business."

A half hour later, Rene descended the stairway accompanied by Miss O'Ranleigh, her face hidden by a large bonnet. Mr. O'Ranleigh followed, his hat pulled well over his forehead, and his coat collar high over his neck. But the keen eyes of Louis Pierre again perceived the resemblance and he muttered:

"Accursed race!--Race which has brought reproach and invasion to France!--But who is this pair? And why does that young aristocrat pay them court?"

As the two Carbonari walked down the wharf later in the evening, Louis Pierre said:

"I am more strongly convinced that this is no love adventure. Be cautious, Giacinto. You stay behind to strike the blow."

Following them came the Marquis and the two Irish pa.s.sengers. Rene bade his friends farewell for a brief while, saying to the girl in a low voice:

"Fear nothing. I shall succeed."

"I wonder if this is a countermine, a cord set to entangle our own net,"