The second-story windows were not more than eight feet above the garden at the rear, as the ground sloped down gradually to the front of the Inn. The first story was very low, too, so that anyone could climb up at the rear without difficulty.

When Mr. Fabian and his two companions reached the scene under the windows, they found three people rolling upon the ground in a tight clutch. The man from the inside of the room who had been finally pulled out and over the ledge; the man who had clung to the vine, for some reason or other, and the third man who had stood at the bottom of the vine and hung on to the climbing man's heels.

From this melee of three, Mr. Alexander's voice sounded clear and threatening. A deep ba.s.s voice gurgled as if in extremity, but the third voice was shrill and hysterical and sounded like a woman's.

Lights were hurried to the spot, and the three contestants were separated, then Mr. Alexander had the satisfaction of turning to the inn-keeper and saying: "I caught them both without help. I saved your place from being robbed."

But one of the two captured burglars sat down on the gra.s.s and began to sob loudly. The host seemed distracted for a moment, then tore off the big soft hat the gypsy wore. Down came a tangle of hair, and his daughter turned a dirt-streaked face up at her furious father.

"What means this masquerading! And who is the accomplice?" shouted he.

"Oh, father," wailed the girl. "Pierre and I were married at the Fete last week, but you would not admit him to the house and I never could get away, so we said we would _run_ away together and start a home elsewhere," confessed the frightened daughter.

Pierre stood by, trembling in fear of his father-in-law, but when everyone realized that poor Pierre was but trying to secure his bride's personal effects which she had tied in several bundles, they felt sorry for the two.

It had been Pierre's idea to dress Jeanne in a gypsy's garb that no one could recognize her when they escaped, and it was Jeanne who suggested that they use the roadster to carry all her effects, and then Pierre could drive it back and leave it near the inn without the owner's knowledge.

The father led his two prisoners to the public-room and the guests trailed behind them, wondering at such an elaborate plan for escape when the two had been married a week and might have walked out quietly without disturbing others, at night.

In an open session of the parental court, the inn-keeper was induced to forgive the culprits and take the undesirable Pierre to his heart and home. Then everyone smiled, and the waiter proposed that the host open a bottle of his best old wine to celebrate the reception of the married pair.

"Why did you object to the young man? He looks like a good boy?" asked Mr. Fabian, when the young pair were toasted and all had made merry over the capture of the two.

"He has a farm four miles out, and I want a son who will run this inn when I am too old. He dislikes this business and I dislike farming. So there you are!" explained the host.

"But you won't have to work the farm," argued Mr. Fabian. "You have the inn and many years of good health before you to enjoy it, and they have the farm. I think the two will work together, very nicely, for you can get all your vegetables and eggs and b.u.t.ter from your daughter, much cheaper than from strangers."

"Ah yes! I never thought of that!" murmured the inn-keeper, and a smile of satisfaction illumed his heavy face.

The next morning the young pair were in high favor with the father, and he was telling his son-in-law about various things he must raise on his farm so that both families might save money.

Then the tourists drove away from Agen with the inn-keeper's blessings ringing in their ears, and after a long tiresome drive they came to Bordeaux. Various places of interest were visited in this city, and the next day they drove on again.

Brittany, with its wealth of old chateaux, was reached next, and time was spent prodigally, that the girls might view the wonderful old places where tourists were welcomed.

CHAPTER XV-AHOY! FOR THE STARS AND STRIPES AGAIN

Finally the tourists stopped at Nantes where the famous edict of Henri the IVth was proclaimed in 1598. Then they drove on to Angers, with the old Chateau d' Angers, built by Louis IXth, about 1250.

They stopped over night at Angers and drove to Saumur the next day, where several pieces of rare old tapestry were seen in the ancient church of St. Pierre.

That night they reached Tours where they planned to stop, in order to make an early start for Loches with its famous chateau. Adjoining this chateau was a thousand-year-old church of St. Ours which Mr. Fabian desired to show the girls.

The old keeper of the church mentioned the Chateau of Amboise which was only a short distance further on the road and was said to be well worth visiting. So they drove there and saw the chapel of St. Hubert which was built by Charles the VIIth. Here lies buried the remains of Leonardo da Vinci, the famous painter.

While at St. Hubert's Chapel, the tourists heard of still another ancient chateau of the 10th century, which was but a few miles further on, on the Loire. As this Chateau 'de Chaumont was only open to visitors on certain days and this day happened to be one of those days, they visited the place.

"My gracious!" exclaimed Mr. Alexander, when they came from the last ancient pile. "I'll be so glad to get back to Denver, where the oldest house is only half a century old, that I won't say a word if you'll agree to only use another precious week lookin' at these moldy old rocks and moss-back roofs."

His friends laughed, for they knew him well by this time. Mrs.

Alexander, however, was not so thankful to go back to Denver, nor was she willing to see any more old chateaux. So she said: "Let's drive on to Paris where we have so much shopping to do."

"Oh no, Ma. The keeper of that last chateau told us there was the finest old place of all, a few miles on, so we want to see that as long as we are here," said Dodo.

"All right, then! You-all go on and see it, but I'll stay here,"

declared Mrs. Alexander.

"I don't want to see any more ruins, Maggie, so s'pose you and I drive in your car and let Dodo drive the touring car to any old stone-heap they want to visit," said Mr. Alexander.

"All right, Ebeneezer. I honestly believe I'd rather sit beside you, in my new car, than have to limp around these old houses," sighed Mrs.

Alexander.

Her words were not very gracious, but her spouse thought that, being her guest in the new car, was better than having to wait for hours outside a ruin. So Dodo drove her friends on to the Chateau de Blois, and they inspected the old place, then saw the famous stable that was built to accommodate twelve hundred horses at one time.

"Here we are, but a short distance from Orleans-why not run over there and visit the place, then drive back to Nantes to meet your father and mother," suggested Mr. Fabian.

"It seems too bad that we have to go all the way back for them, when we are so near Paris, now," said Dodo.

"Oh, but we haven't finished the most interesting section of France, yet!" exclaimed Eleanor, who had been looking over Mr. Fabian's road-map.

"In that case, I fear we will lose Ma for company," said Dodo, laughingly. "As we come nearer Paris, she is more impatient to reach there. She may suddenly take it into her head to let her car skid along the road that leads away from us and straight for Paris."

From Nantes they drove straight on without stopping until Caens was reached; Mr. Fabian pointed out various places along the road, and told of famous historical facts in connection with them, but they did not visit any of the scenes.

Caen, with its old churches and quaint buildings, was very interesting to the girls. Then at Bayeaux they went to see the wonderful Bayeaux tapestry which was wrought by Matilda and her Ladies in Waiting in 1062.

This tapestry is two hundred and thirty feet long and twenty inches wide, but it pictures the most marvellous historical scenes ever reproduced in weaving.

From Bayeaux they went to Mont St. Michel to see the eight hundred year-old monastery which is so well preserved. Rouen, the capital of Normandy, was the next stopping place on the itinerary, and here they saw many ancient Norman houses as well as churches. But the princ.i.p.al point of interest for the girls, was the monument in Rouen, erected to the memory of Joan of Arc, who was burned to death for her faith.

The night they spent at Rouen, Mr. Alexander had a serious talk with Mr.

Fabian and his girls.

"You see, I want to please you-all, but Maggie won't stand for any more of this gallivantin' around old churches. I'm gettin' awful tired of it, myself, but then I don't count much, anyway.

"Maggie says she's goin' right on to Paris, whether you-all do so or not; and if I let her go there alone, she'll buy her head off with fine clothes, and then Dodo and me won't know what to do to cart them all back to the States. So I have to go with her in self-defense, you understand!"

They laughed at the worried expression on the little man's face, and Mr.

Fabian said: "Well, Mr. Alex, we are through sight-seeing for this time, anyway, so we may as well run back to Paris when you do."

"Oh, that's good news! Almost as good as if I won the first prize in the Louisanny Lottery!" laughed Mr. Alexander, jocosely.

So they all drove to Paris, where Mr. Ashby was to meet them, in a few days. As Mr. Alexander deftly threaded the car in and out through the congested traffic, he sighed and said: "I never thought I'd be so glad to see this good-for-nothin' town again. But I've been so tossed and torn tourin' worst places, that even Paris looks good to me, now."

His friends laughed and his wife said: "Why, it is the most wonderful city in the world! I am going to enjoy myself all I can in the next three days."