Leonard took Josephine by the shoulders, Dominique by the ankles. They raised her and were carrying her out, when, opening her eyes, she said to them in a voice so low that she could not suppose that Ralph’s hearing was fine enough to catch a syllable of what she said: “No. I’ll walk all right. You will stay here, Leonard. You’re the best man to guard Ralph.” “Let me knock him on the head and be done with it,” whispered Leonard. “This young fellow will bring us bad luck.” “I love him,” she murmured. “But he doesn’t love you any longer.” “Yes. He will come back to me. Besides, whatever happens, I’m not going to let him go.” “Then what do you propose to do?” asked Leonard glumly. “The _Nonchalante_ should be at Caudebec. I’m going to rest there till early to-morrow morning. I must rest.” “And the treasure? It will need a gang to handle a stone of that size.” “To-night I’ll send word to the Corbus to meet me to-morrow at Jumièges. Then I’ll see to Ralph--unless--But don’t bother me any more now. I’m done,” she muttered. “But what about Beaumagnan?” he persisted. “We’ll set him free when I have the treasure.” “Aren’t you afraid that that girl will inform the police? It would be an easy job for them to surround this old lighthouse.” “Nonsense! Do you think she’s going to put the police on the track of her father and Ralph?” said Josephine. She sat up on one of the chairs and fell back again with a groan. Some minutes passed. At last with an effort which seemed to exhaust her she succeeded in standing upright, and resting on Dominique, went to Ralph. “He’s insensible,” she murmured. “Guard him carefully, Leonard, and the other too. If one of them gets away, the game’s up.” She went away slowly. Leonard accompanied her to the old barouche and in a little while came back, after padlocking the gate. He brought with him a parcel containing food. Then they heard the sound of hoofs on the stony road. Ralph had already discovered that he was securely bound. He said to himself: “The chief is growing rather feeble. Firstly in talking about the steps she proposes to take before witnesses; secondly in entrusting stout fellows like Beaumagnan and me to the care of a single man. Those are mistakes which prove that she’s in a bad state of health.” All the same it was true that Leonard’s experience would render any attempt to escape uncommonly difficult. “Leave those ropes alone,” he said to Ralph as he entered. “If you don’t I’ll plug you on the jaw.” This formidable jailor took every precaution to make his task easy. After running them through the back of a chair he tied together the ends of the two ropes which bound the prisoners. Then he propped the chair on two legs so that it would fall over easily, and on it he set the dagger that Josephine had given him. If one of the prisoners stirred the chair would fall over. “You’re less stupid than you look,” said Ralph. “Shut your mouth or I’ll plug you on the jaw,” said Leonard.