Now this was what the Governor saw on the roof of the Cathedral, thirty feet above him. Over the stone parapet a lean, dark face surmounting a bare brown arm and hand, from which hung the rope of the flag of truce; behind, what seemed to him a vast blue statue, astride the neck of which sat a little figure in a cotton blouse, dangling two bare legs, and patting the statue’s head with one hand, while with the other it blew kisses to the amazed and horrified Governor. His hand caught the butt of his revolver. Escaped convicts were wild beasts--and his child sat on the shoulders of one and played with what was left of its hair! The Governor’s aristocratic and sporting instincts were aroused. Jean Jacques, leaning over the parapet, smiled genially, and his other hand, in which glistened the long blade of a knife, rested for a moment on the parapet. Only for a second, but the Governor let fall the pistol, and covered his face in his hands with a shrinking gesture of physical pain and fear. ‘_Bien! Monsieur_,’--Jean Jacques took the word in courteous tones, and with a caressing upward wave of the hand that no longer held the knife to the little white atom on his comrade’s shoulders. ‘_Bien!_ decidedly Monsieur and I shall understand one another. I have the honour of addressing Monsieur le Gouverneur? Good.’ Jean Jacques made a polite bow with what could be seen of him in response to the Governor’s sign of assent. ‘Monsieur, I will be brief. I am Jean Jacques. My friend Monsieur Pierre Legros--Monsieur le Gouverneur!’ He indicated the silent Pierre with a backward and airy wave. ‘My friend and I were bored--it was not your fault, Monsieur, do not be distressed--we were in want of distraction, we were also in want of being free--ah! Free----’ Jean Jacques looked up with a sigh that spoke volumes even to the Governor, pre-occupied as he was with dread anxiety. ‘_Nous voila!_ distracted and free--do you think we will again return to the other state?’ An accent of menace crept into his voice, but passed as quickly as it came. ‘No, we shall remain free; it rests with Monsieur to decide how and on what terms. Providence has kindly sent Monsieur to us alone; my friend and I do not wish that anyone should see Monsieur talking with us--it might compromise him as affairs will turn out. Therefore, if Monsieur will give to us his ears, my friend and I will briefly explain to him how things stand, and what we have the honour to desire at the hands of Monsieur.’ He paused for a moment, and turned to Pierre, standing in the shadow behind him; the latter made a sign of acquiescence, and Jacques went on: