Their plans being adjusted, the meeting was dissolved, and the parties separately dispersed, each to make his way back, as he best might, so as to avoid suspicion or detection, to Fort Caroline. They had scarcely disappeared when Alphonse D'Erlach emerged from the hollow of a cypress which stood upon the edge of the knoll where their conference had taken place. CHAPTER III. Alphonse D'Erlach was one of those remarkable persons who seem, in periods of great excitement, to be entirely superior to its influence. He appeared to be entirely without emotions. Though a mere youth, not yet firm in physical manhood, he was, in morals, endowed with a strength, a hardihood and maturity, which do not often fall to the lot of middle age. In times of difficulty, he possessed a coolness which enabled him to contemplate deliberately the approach of danger, and he was utterly beyond surprises. His conference with old Bon Pre, when they met again that night was remarkably illustrative of these characteristics. "What shall we do?" demanded the old man. "Your part is easily done," was the reply--"you are simply to do nothing--to forbear doing. I understand your purpose in volunteering to do the poisoning. I will see Laudonniere in an hour. You will prepare the coffee--nay, let Fourneaux, or that fool of a magician himself, introduce the poison. Laudonniere will sleep, you understand." "But, Le Genré--the gunpowder!" "I will see to that." "What will you do?" "Nay, time must find the answer. I am not resolved; but, at all events, for the present, Laudonniere must know nothing. He must remain in ignorance." "Why?" "For the best reason in the world. Did he guess what we know, he would be for arming himself and all around him--creating a confusion under the name of law--attempting arrests, and so proceeding as to give opportunities to the conspirators to do that boldly, which they are now content to do basely. I think we shall thwart them with their own weapons. Let us separate now. I will see Laudonniere but a few moments before I sleep." "_Can_ you sleep to-night? I cannot! I shall hardly be able to sleep till the affair is over. I do not think, honestly speaking, that I have slept a good hour for the last week. I am certainly not conscious of having done so." "Nature provides for all such cases. For my part I never want sleep--I always have it. I can sleep in a storm and enjoy it just as well. The uproar of winds and seas never troubles me. If it does, it is only to lull me into sleep again. I am a philosopher without knowing it, and by accident. But come--we must part." The chamber of D'Erlach was in the same building with that of Laudonniere. They slept in adjoining apartments. D'Erlach purposely made some noise in approaching his, and Laudonniere cried out, "Who is there?--Alphonse?" "The same, sir." "Come in--where have you been at this hour; is it not very late?"