"Well, hate them or not, father, you have got to put up with the fact that the child has got two grandfathers; you are one, and the Comte St. Juste of the château near Arles is the other. This good fellow and I had an interview with the Comte and it seems he has been all these years searching and searching for the child of his only son, who died. He didn't even know whether it was a boy or girl, but he knew there was a child and he couldn't find it. Well, we brought him the tidings and luckily for us he speaks English, and so does Madame la Comtesse, his young second wife. He's reasonable enough and he promises a big 'dot' to the little one." "A dot! What's a dot?" cried The Desmond. "A full stop I suppose you mean, we don't want a full stop." "No, father, it's the French for a dowry. It means a lot of money. He wanted to have the child altogether, but when we spoke to him, he was amenable to reason. He will give her a lot of money--I can't tell you the exact sum, but with what he can give and what we can give, the little one will be well off--very well off--only the condition is this: She is to spend half her time with him and half her time with you. He's very old--very much more feeble than you are, father, and he wants Mansfield and me to bring her over to the château near Arles at once. She is to stay there three months and then you shall have her for three months. It's reasonable and I've promised, and it must be done." "You say he is older than me," said The Desmond, "and a Frenchy, too, bedad. Look at me, do I look young now?" "No, you have got a bit of a disappointment, but she will be back with you in three months." The Desmond turned his head aside and it was only Mansfield who noticed his shaking hands. "My little bit, my little own," he murmured, "my pushkeen, my little own." Mansfield got up very softly and left the room. In a few minutes he returned with some hot whisky and water, which he gave the old man. "You must take it, sir," he said. "You are shook up, the same as I am, but she'll be back with you soon, for I'll bring her to you myself." There was a great excitement in the house when it was announced by Fergus that Margot St. Juste, according to the French law, was a Comtesse, and that she was to go immediately, that very day, to her French grandfather's château outside Arles. The place was in a kind of turmoil, but the old man did not appear. Little Margot rushed in and clasped her arms round his neck. "Grand-dad, I won't go." "Ye must, pushkeen." "Grand-dad, is your heart a-breaking?" "Will you forget me when ye are away, _alanna_?" "Never--never--never! As long as you live and as long as I live. Uncle John promises to bring me back to you faithful and true. And when he comes may he stay for a couple of days?" "He may stay forever and ever, if he doesn't bring that wicked woman, his wife. She married beneath her, but she's a scold, for all that."