"Madame abhors tobacco, Mynheer," Harry ventured to say. "Huh! Zo I now remember. It is a pity; I must put out my pipe, even though she be not here." "She is gone from home, then? I fancied so by the manner of your entering." "Ja! At dis moment she and de juffrouw are, as I suppose, fast asleep in Breda. Dey come dere last night." "Oh! And we receive Monsieur de Polignac?" "Dat is zo; we receive Monsieur de Polignac." Deprived of the solace of his pipe, Grootz settled himself to sleep in his chair. An hour or more later he was wakened by Harry. "Here they are, Mynheer!" "Zo!" He was up in a moment, and from the window saw Polignac, accompanied by Aglionby and two sturdy henchmen, walking up the drive towards the house. "Zooks!" exclaimed Sherebiah, "here be Rafe Aglionby again. ’Twill be no cuddle this time if I lay hands on him. No thanks to he I be not a dead corpse to-day." "Sherebiah, it is my turn," said Grootz solemnly. "Zackly, Mynheer, all fair and no favour." The four men came to the door, and the bell gave forth a resounding clang. All was silent within the house, and Jean at Grootz’s orders paid no heed to the appeal. Again the bell sounded; again there was no response. Then Aglionby with an oath began to hammer on the door with his riding-whip. Even this noisy summons being disregarded, after a moment’s consultation Polignac ordered one of his men to burst in the door. It yielded easily to his force, and the four trooped in—to find themselves confronted by Grootz, with Harry and Sherebiah behind him. At the same moment six of the men about the estate came quietly from behind the house and arranged themselves in two parties on both sides of the entrance, outside, and out of view from within. Jean had fulfilled his instructions. Polignac halted in some embarrassment when he saw Grootz, and Aglionby looked far from comfortable at this unexpected meeting with the two men he had injured. "Messieurs, I ask you," began Grootz in slow, halting French, "what is the meaning of this forcible entry?" "Pardon, Monsieur," replied Polignac, recovering his sang-froid instantly. "I have not the pleasure. I came to see Madame la Comtesse de Vaudrey." "Zo? And permit me to ask, what is your business with Madame la Comtesse de Vaudrey?" "Before I reply, permit me to ask by what right you question me, and what you are doing here?" "Decidedly, Monsieur. My name is Jan Grootz; I am here by the power of attorney I hold from Madame de Vaudrey. I beg you see it is in due form." He exhibited a roll of parchment which Polignac glanced at; he was patently annoyed; his mouth twitched towards his left ear. Aglionby meanwhile had edged towards him, evidently with the intention of whispering something; but Sherebiah noted the movement and exclaimed: "Keep a still tongue, Rafe Aglionby, ’ee were best, I tell ’ee."