"Why, don't you see? Isabel has been brought up with English ideas about these sort of things, and it's surely only natural that she should feel a little upset at the thought of being married so suddenly, and without any of her old friends to help her. She has told Peter that if it was possible she would like to have a talk with an English clergyman, and knowing that I have got the Reverend Mr. Monk on board, Peter has suggested that I should take him along to the Château. Of course, for various reasons, he didn't want a fuss made about it, so he has just given me his own private pass, and told me to explain the rest to the Count of Saint Anna. What could be more beautifully simple and probable?" Molly clapped her hands softly. "Splendid, Tony!" she said. "Absolutely splendid!" "And suppose," remarked Guy in his depressingly matter-of-fact voice, "that the first person we run into at the Château is Isabel's uncle or the Marquis da Freitas or the King himself. What's going to happen then?" "I don't know exactly," said Tony, "but I should say that in all probability there will be the hell of a row." "It's no good worrying about that," said Molly decisively. "We've got to chance something, and the odds are that all three of them will be down in Portriga. I imagine that that's why they've sent the girl to this place--in order to have their hands free." Tony nodded his agreement. "There's a lot of hard work about running a revolution," he observed. "I shouldn't think they would be able to spare anybody this morning." Molly looked round at the other two. "Well," she said, "Tony and I have made up our minds at all events. Are you ready to back us up?" There was a pause. "I will do anything I can," remarked Guy simply. Jimmy leaned back and thrust his hands into his trouser pocket's. "So will I, of course," he said. "The only thing I don't like about it is leaving you behind. Suppose they turn nasty when they find out?" Molly smiled at him comfortingly. "That's all right," she said. "Peter has got his weak points, but if any one was to hurt the tip of my little finger he would have the last drop of blood they've got. Da Freitas knows that as well as I do." "I'm glad to hear he appreciates you," said Jimmy with feeling. "You are much too good for him." He hesitated. "Look here," he added suddenly, "suppose he's killed, suppose somebody shoots him--it's quite possible you know--will you come back to England and marry me?" Molly broke into a little ripple of silvery laughter. "I daresay I might," she said. "Anyhow, it's nice to have something to fall back on in case one wants it." "I hate to interrupt a really passionate love affair," observed Tony apologetically, "but don't you think we ought to discuss our arrangements--such as they are? We haven't too much time to spare."