"But _I_ did not save you, Papa!" exclaimed the child, almost indignantly. René de Flavigny's eyes sought the fire. "I would not be too sure of that," he said. "On whose account, do you suppose, Anne, did Mr. Tollemache take all that trouble and risk for me?" "I suppose," replied the little boy, wrinkling his forehead, "for St. Michel, because I asked him very particularly to take care of you." "Yes," repeated René, "as I say, it was you who saved me, my son. But not, perhaps, quite in the way you think," he added to himself. There was a moment's pause, during which Anne apparently resolved not to pursue this question, for he went on with a business-like air: "I have now quite resolved what I will do with my money, which is now a great sum, with what Grandpapa gave me at Christmas. I shall not give it to M. le Lieutenant." "Well?" queried Mr. Elphinstone, looking at him over his spectacles. "This suspense is very hard to bear, Anne." "I shall spend it on going to Portsmouth to see M. le Chevalier." The two men looked at each other at this announcement. "What next?" asked the Marquis, amused. "After that I shall begin to save for the new box," responded his son, taking the inquiry literally. "For though to go to Portsmouth will not cost as much as going to France would have done, I expect it will quite empty the old one." "And a very good thing too," remarked his grandfather, "if you are going to employ your savings to such ends. We have had enough, in this house, of your jaunts, my bairn." "But it was _you_, Grandpapa, that sent me to Canterbury!" said Anne, turning an accusing gaze on the old gentleman. Mr. Elphinstone collapsed. "True, only too true!" he murmured. "But, child, your father is going down to Portsmouth to see M. de la Vireville directly he is able to travel. He has already written to him to that effect." "But that will be quite a long time yet, I know," returned the Comte wisely. "I heard Dr. Collins say so." "You could write M. de la Vireville a letter," suggested his grandfather. "But I want to see him!" repeated Anne. "One does not see a person by writing him a letter." "This child's arguments are difficult to controvert," remarked Mr. Elphinstone to his son-in-law. "I do not see any reply to that." "Except perhaps this," suggested the Marquis. "Are you sure, Anne, that on his side M. de la Vireville wants to see you just now? He is rather ill, you know." Anne-Hilarion gave this due consideration. "But if I were ill, Papa, I should want to see you and Grandpapa. It would make me feel better--as when I had whooping-cough last year." "And you think that your presence would have a similar good effect on M. de la Vireville? You are not wanting in assurance, my son!" Anne smiled, because he knew that he was being teased, and, the clock striking at that moment, he slipped out of his father's arm. "Will you please to think about it, Papa, while I have my walk?" he said coaxingly.