"Well, he did!" squealed Pierre, wriggling free. "He is a spy, Papa! Just like her! I told you-"

"You will cease to tell me," said de Coligny in a no-nonsense voice that silenced his son. He reached out. "My dear fellow!"

The two men exchanged a firm handshake, and de Coligny gestured to Pierre to close the cabin door.

"You are-acquainted?" asked Consuela, sitting on a bunk beside Vespa. "But-Monsieur Gaston, you never said you knew my betrothed!"

The Frenchman put the pistol aside and said with a twinkle, "It is, you might say, a passing acquaintanceship. Besides, Miss Jones, you did not tell me his name."

"I never thought my Papa would cry friends with a perfid'us Englishman," grumbled Pierre, disappointed.

"He is not perfidious!" protested Consuela.

"I believe that is from Napoleon Bonaparte's name for us," said Vespa. "Perfidious Albion." He glanced at the Frenchman's left hand, immobile and encased in a leather glove. "So you lost your hand, after all. Were you then exchanged?"

De Coligny nodded. "I was sent home. Did your shoulder necessitate your own separation from the army?"

"It was a-contributing factor."

"Ah-you fought together," said Consuela, the light dawning.

"But on opposite sides," qualified Vespa.

Pierre was sitting on the floor watching sulkily, but at this he sprang up, exclaiming, "Now I know, Papa! This is the British officer you told me of! The man who shot you!"

"Fair exchange, rather." Vespa turned to Consuela. "The Chevalier de Coligny was with D'Erlon at Vitoria. We encountered each other on the field, and were unhorsed by the same shell. Only one hack survived and, in the struggle to capture it, each of us was wounded."

De Coligny explained. "My shot took Jacques in the shoulder."

"And he shot off your hand," cried Pierre, scowling at Vespa.

"Not quite," said his father with a smile for that fierce resentment. "Although he was himself hurt, Captain Vespa was so good as to apply a tourniquet to my wrist. Else, my son, I should not be here now. Unhappily, the infection it set in." He shrugged fatalistically. "C'est la vie. And I am fortunate. I have not to earn my living, and with the help of my family and my good servants, I contrive. I am only glad, mon capitaine, that I was not responsible for your demise, for I had heard it that you were killed."

"Wars!" said Consuela, who could picture the battlefield scene all too well. "How utterly stupid they are. If women ran the world we would outlaw the silly things!"

"Perhaps, someday, you will," said de Coligny.

"In the meantime," said Vespa, still holding Consuela's hand tightly, "Will somebody be so kind as to tell me how it comes about that my lady seems to be-ah, travelling under your protection?"

Simultaneously: Consuela said, "I was trapped in that horrid Swiss man's coach!"

Pierre said, "I found her, hiding with a bear!"

The Chevalier de Coligny said, "The lady slept in my cabin!"

"Did she, indeed?" Vespa seized on the final incomprehensibility. "I think you must explain that, monsieur!"

"Certainement, I must!" agreed de Coligny hurriedly. "But I pray you will not look upon me with such ferocity, mon cher Jacques."

"He is very ferocious," put in Pierre. "And he is an English spy also, Papa. What are you going to do with him?"

The two men looked at each other.

"Ah," murmurred de Coligny. "Now that is the question."

9.

The chevalier, who had begun to look grave, was much relieved when Vespa assured him that he was in Brittany only to retrieve his lady. Consuela told her tale with typical Latin drama. Vespa paled when she spoke of her "flight through the air" as the coach was loaded into the hold of the fishing boat, but was won to laughter by Pierre's exuberant description of her encounter with the bear. "So it is Pierre who has rescued your Miss Consuela," the boy boasted proudly.

"And it is Pierre to whom I am very deeply indebted," said Vespa, bowing to him.

"Such a terrifying experience for a gentle lady," murmured the chevalier, who was still not a little shocked by such behaviour. "I am very sure my dear wife would have swooned away."

Consuela stared at him. "She would? But it was a great adventure. Though, I'll admit I was a little bit afraid. Just now and then, you know. And I am very glad that Jack has come and everything turned out so nicely."

"Oh, are you?" said Vespa, feigning indignation. "I take it that you care not a button that I have knocked down an innocent gentleman!"

"Not the tiniest button," agreed Consuela, her eyes sparkling at him.

"And I must question the innocence of that particular gentleman," said de Coligny. "He has the reputation most unsavoury."

"Yes, indeed." Having kept her most exciting piece of news to the end, Consuela said, "And now you must listen closely, Jack, for I have learned something of the greatest importance, that you will be very happy to know."

He smiled at her tenderly. "I can think of nothing so important as to know that you are safe, my little Signorina."

For a moment there was silence as they exchanged glances that betrayed their love with more eloquence than mere words could have done.

Amused, the chevalier coughed politely behind his hand.

Vespa started and flushed with embarrassment.

Consuela said, "Oh, dear! Now what was I saying?"

"It cannot have been so very important if you've already forgot," said Pierre, bored, and went out onto the deck.

"But it is!" said Consuela. "Jack-Lord Kincraig is here! In Brittany! That's why Imre Monteil came. He means to find him!"

"What?" He said incredulously, "But are you quite sure? Manderville heard that he was gone to Suffolk."

"No, no! I was hiding in the coach when the messenger brought the news to Monteil! He said the 'Crazy Carpet Collector' had been near Rennes last week, and Monteil was very pleased! Isn't it wonderful that we've found him?"

"That you've found him, clever girl! And it's wonderful indeed, if-"

"So here you are!" Paige Manderville stepped into the cabin and closed the door quickly.

"Yes." Vespa stood, his mind a whirl of excitement and new hope. "Has Imre Monteil reported us to the authorities?"

"Don't think he found any to report to! He seems to think you've gone inland, and the silly clunch has taken his monstrous coachman and gone haring off after you. Jolly good luck to him! I've arranged with Willy Leggett for our passage home. I fancy you'll want to go ashore, de Coligny?"

The chevalier confirmed this, and Vespa also declared his intention of going ashore.

"Consuela has been telling me how she came to be in Monteil's coach," he explained, responding to his friend's astounded expression.

"The man is a scoundrel, no doubt of it," said Manderville. "But to follow and demand satisfaction would be the height of folly, dear old boy."

"I've no least intention of doing either. Though, I suppose he is entitled to a meeting. I did knock him down, after all."

"Stuff! You'd every right to knock him down. But if you don't mean to follow the villain, why do you wish to go ashore? Ain't much of a place, so far as I can see. No offence intended, de Coligny, but there's not much here outside of granite and sand and a lighthouse every few miles."

"There will be," declared the chevalier. "We've plans to improve roads and transportation and to plant crops to enrich the soil. Soon, this will be a grand agricultural centre."

"And besides, I found out that Lord Kincraig is here," put in Consuela. "Isn't it marvellous?"

Manderville gave a snort of derision. "Marvellous fustian! What on earth gave you that notion? Kincraig is in Suffolk-and likely even now preparing to hop over to Belgium. Someone's been filling your ears with treacle, Consuela."

"No such thing!" she argued fiercely. "I heard a courier tell Imre Monteil that the 'Crazy Carpet Man' is in the vicinity of Rennes! It is your informant who is wrong, Paige Manderville!"

"In which case," said Vespa, "we're closer than we've ever been, and I mean to lose no time in-"

"In-what? Running your head straight under the nearest guillotine? You're as bacon-brained as he is!" Exasperated, Manderville declared, "I tell you, Jack, Kincraig's nowhere near Rennes!"

Vespa said dubiously, "I suppose Monteil's man could have erred."

De Coligny said in his courteous fashion, "Forgive that I interfere, but may I know why you would wish to find this poor mad gentleman?"

Consuela and Manderville both looked to Vespa and were silent. He improvised quickly. "It is a family thing, Gaston. My mother believes this carpet collector may be her long-missing cousin, and she has charged me to find him."

"Ah," de Coligny nodded sympathetically. "It is a sad task, that. I cannot help, for I know very little of him. From what I have heard of Imre Monteil, his people would not dare to bring him false reports. But Lieutenant Manderville speaks truly, Jacques. Even had you the means, to venture into France would be to write your death-warrant."

"That does not appear to weigh with Lord Kincraig," said Vespa.

"No-because he is, you will forgive, demented, and knowing this, people do not pay him heed. With you, it would be otherwise. And of a certainty you must take Miss Consuela out of harm's way."

"Paige will escort her home for me, won't you?" said Vespa, turning to his friend.

"We both will take the lady home," argued Manderville stubbornly.

"You will do no such thing," said Consuela, her little chin setting. "Whatever you say, Jack, I know what you mean to do, and I am not going to be packed off home to worry myself into a decline while you rush out and get yourself slain! No, and no!"

His heart warmed by this declaration, Vespa said fondly, "You are very dear, but you must see that I can't drag you about all over France, with not the whisper of a chaperone. Even if your lovely head were not forfeit, your reputation assuredly would be."

"Look about you, Captain John," she commanded. "Where are the crowds? The leaders of the ton? The gabsters and gossips and rumour-mongers? Who will know I am here? Rennes is not very far away, and you certainly do not mean to journey through France wearing a scarlet uniform-"

"Blue," corrected Manderville absently.

Consuela swept on, "-you will go in some sort of disguise, no? And I shall be your sister-or your affianced, or the Lady Consuela of Ottavio, whom you escort to the duchess, her Grandmama, and who would be an asset, rather than-"

Someone pounded on the door and bellowed, "All ashore what's goin' ashore!"

Vespa led Consuela to the door saying in a lowered voice, "My little love it will not serve. I have no coach, and may have to ride on a donkey if I can hire one, or travel many miles afoot. To be always responsible for your precious self would be a constant worry at a time I'll need to keep my wits about me. You must allow Paige to take you home so that I can know you'll be safe."

"'Fraid not," said Manderville. "If you go, Jack, I'm going with you."

Consuela clapped her hands and did a little jig of delight.

Dismayed, Vespa said, "But I can't let her go back to England alone! That would really cause an uproar!"

"I agree. So abandon this foolish plan and you'll find I am in the right of it."

"It is not a foolish plan! Don't listen to him, Jack," said Consuela. "We will journey to Rennes, you and I, and find your carpet collector!"

Vespa shook his head. "Whatever the case, your safety must be my first consideration," he said firmly. "I'll take you back to your Grandmama, and then come-"

She gave a wail of mortification, and said she had been so eager to tell him her wonderful news and now that horrid Paige Manderville had spoiled everything.

Manderville looked aghast and hurried off to advise Leggett the decision had been made.

Pierre came back and with a disgusted look at Consuela said, "What? Crying again? What watering pots you ladies are!"

The chevalier told his son to apologize at once, and then sent the boy off to call their coachman to come and get the luggage.

The next few minutes were not pleasant for either of the remaining gentlemen. Consuela wept bitterly and lamented between sobs that she was now the cause of Jack losing Lord Kincraig. Vespa's attempts to comfort her were to no avail, and he could not have been more relieved when de Coligny's coachman and footman arrived to collect the portmanteaux.

The chevalier murmured excusingly, "She has endured much, the little lady."

"She has indeed. There's no end to her courage and resourcefulness, but I fear she is quite exhausted. It is as well she'll be able to rest on the return passage." Vespa took Consuela's arm. "Come, my signorina. I'll see what Leggett has arranged for your cabin, and you can say adieu to your new friends."

The wind was rising when they went on deck. Consuela clung sadly to Vespa's arm, but thanked the chevalier for all his kindness to her, and waved goodbye to Pierre, who had followed the bear's cage onto the quay and was leaping about "as though," said his amused sire, "he went on springs!"

Shaking de Coligny's hand, Vespa said, "I shall never be able to thank you for taking such good care of her, Gaston. If ever-"

He was interrupted by Consuela's shriek. A chorus of shouts went up, interspersed by squeals and screams and a frenzied scattering of those on the quay.

Consuela squeaked, "Pierre has let that terrible bear out of its cage!"

"Mon Dieu!" gasped the chevalier, and ran for the gangplank.

"Oh, heavens!" exclaimed Consuela. "Pierre thinks he can play with the creature!" Vespa was already limping rapidly after de Coligny, and she called, "Jack-do be careful!"

Willy Leggett roared a frustrated, "I ain't a'waiting, Captain Vespa! If we're to catch the tide we must leave-now!"

Vespa scarcely heard him; his entire concentration was on the distraught father who, in an effort not to further alarm the bear, was now walking smoothly towards his son.