Simmons then related that, some few days before the battle of Blenheim, Monsieur de Polignac had come secretly into the camp and paid a visit to Aglionby. (Harry remembered the letter making the appointment he had found in the castle.) The opening of the interview had been stormy; Aglionby had accused Polignac of being a party to the attempt on his life at Breda, and at first refused to accept his assurances that he knew nothing whatever of the matter. But Polignac spoke him fairly, declaring that his connection with Mr. Berkeley had been limited to planning Aglionby’s rescue from prison. The Captain’s suspicions being at last lulled, Polignac opened up the subject of his visit. Of the remainder of the interview Simmons had but hazy ideas: he had listened through a hole in Aglionby’s tent, and the conversation being conducted in low tones and in French, of which he had only a smattering, he had missed a good deal of it. But he had heard enough to know that the Mademoiselle of whom the two spoke was Mademoiselle de Vaudrey, and that Polignac was bargaining with Aglionby to aid him in an attempt to get possession of the young lady. "One thing I heard plain, sir," said Simmons in conclusion, "and that was that the cap’n was to get a good bit o’ gold when the Frenchman married the lady, and a good bit more when he came into the estates." "What estates?" "That I can’t tell you, sir; ’the estates’ was all I heard—_terres_ was the word as was used." "Oh! And why do you betray your master?" "Well, sir, he’ve led me a dog’s life for years; holds over me that hangin’ business on the old road; and then after I’d served him faithful leaves me to shift for myself with a bullet in my arm. I don’t owe him no thanks." Harry stood in thought for a few moments. "You’re a Londoner, I think, Simmons?" he said at length. "Ay, sir." "What trade were you bred to?" "A joiner, sir." "Well, if you’ll promise me to go straight back to London and work at your trade, I’ll contrive to send you down the Rhine with the prisoners, and give you a little money to start you." "Thank ’ee kindly, sir!" "Very well. Sherebiah shall take you to Hanau and see you safely lodged. Remember, you’ve your character to build up afresh. If you stick to your trade, and keep out of the way of folk who want to use you for dirty work, you may become a decent citizen yet." "On my soul I’ll try, sir. ’Tisn’t every one would give a poor fellow a chance, and I thank ’ee true, sir."