Presently the owner of the hydro-glisseur obtained a certain amount of silence, and, beckoning to one of the men, led him aside. For some minutes the pair conversed heatedly, Monsieur de la Voie smiting the open palm of his left hand with his fist, while the other man shrugged his shoulders and extended his hands. At length the latter, evidently unable to hold his own, changed his tone completely. He appeared to be pleading and expressing regrets. Monsieur de la Voie dismissed him, and returned to the quayside, where the _Olivette_ lay. "I have found out for you who is the cause of your misfortune. That man is the captain of the tug drawing the barges, and the rearmost barge broke her tow-rope and ran into your yacht." "Then he is the careless blighter, monsieur," said Hepburn. Raoul de la Voie shook his head. "No, no," he remarked emphatically. "He asked for a new tow-rope two weeks ago, and the owner neglected to supply him with one. So it is the owner who is the careless blighter, _n'est-ce pas?_" "I should think so, monsieur," agreed Alan. "Do you know who he is?" De la Voie laughed. "_Mais oui_," he replied. "_C'est moi_--I am the careless blighter." Hepburn coloured up and said nothing. The Frenchman eyed him curiously for some minutes, and then slapped the lad on the shoulder. "There is no harm done," he exclaimed. "It is a joke. Let me explain. I am the actual owner of the Chantier Declos, and these are my barges. Therefore I am responsible for the damage done to your _Olivette_, and I must needs make reparation. I have sent for my foreman to come and make a report, and put the work in hand at once." "Awfully sporting of you, monsieur," said Roche. "It is a duty," declared Monsieur de la Voie. Presently the foreman arrived, and at his suggestion the _Olivette_ was placed in a cradle and hauled up the slipway. Raoul de la Voie received his subordinate's report and translated it for the benefit of the crew. "Your yacht will require a new stem-piece, breast-hook, and seven new planks forward," he announced. "There will also be several seams to require caulking, and, of course, painting and varnishing. My foreman says he hopes to complete the repairs in a week or ten days." The news was received with mixed feelings by the Sea Scouts. They were delighted to know that the grim shadow of a very heavy bill had vanished, since the genial Frenchman had willingly acknowledged his liability. But a week or ten days! That meant a drastic curtailment of the cruise. It would be impossible, in view of the delay, to carry out the programme. "We'll have to cut out the Paris trip, lads," said Mr. Armitage. Poor old Tom Boldrigg looked very much down in the mouth. The decision meant a lot to him. The opportunity of paying a visit to the grave of his soldier son was now denied him. "Paris?" echoed Raoul. "Why not? Is it absolutely necessary that you proceed by water?"