“Yes. Everything is ready. The smallest details have been worked out.” “How?” he said in an incredulous tone. “By the agency of Dominique.” “Ah! I was wondering what had become of Dominique,” he said. “Yes; directly after the _coup_, even before Ralph went to La Haie d’Etigues, Dominique got employed there as a groom.” “But Ralph knows him.” “Ralph has seen him once or twice at the most; and you know how clever Dominique is at disguising his face. It’s impossible that he should recognize him among all the staff of the château and the stables. Dominique then, following my instructions, has kept me informed of what is going on day by day. I know the hours at which Ralph goes to bed and gets up, how he spends his time, and everything he does. I know that he has not yet seen Clarice again, but that he has sent for the papers necessary for the marriage.” “Does he suspect anything?” “As far as I’m concerned, he does not. Dominique heard scraps of a conversation which he had with Godfrey d’Etigues the day he came to the château. Neither of them had the slightest doubt about my death. But none the less Ralph wished them to take all possible precautions against me, though I was dead. Therefore he is on guard over the château. He is keeping watch, continually on guard, and always questioning the peasants.” “And Dominique has let you come?” “Yes; but only for an hour. One bold swift stroke, at night, and immediate flight.” “And it’s to-night, is it?” he said anxiously. “Yes, to-night between ten and eleven. Ralph is living at an isolated keeper’s lodge, not far from the old tower to which Beaumagnan had me taken. That lodge is let into the big wall of the park. And on the other side of it, which looks on the country, there is only one window, on the ground floor, and no door. If the shutters are closed, to get into it you have to go round through the park gates and along the inside of the wall. The two keys will be under a stone close to the park gates to-night. When Ralph is asleep we shall roll him up in his mattress and blankets and bring him here. The moment we’ve got him, we set sail.” “Is that all?” said Leonard. Josephine hesitated before she replied: “That’s all.” “And what about Dominique?” “He will go with us.” Leonard bent forward, tried to see her face clearly in the darkness, and said: “You haven’t given him any special orders?” “What about?” “About Clarice. You hate that girl. Therefore I’m afraid that you may have entrusted Dominique with some job.” She hesitated again before replying: “That’s no business of yours.” “Nevertheless----” he said doubtfully.