"My blood was up. I felt as I feel sometimes now, that I didn't care for anything or any one or what might happen to me. I rushed at the nearest Chinaman like a maniac--I believe he thought I was one. My first blow knocked him silly. Then, right and left I hit out. I was in perfect condition at that time. Down went the Chinamen one after another, as my blows caught them on the chin--I used to be famous for that chin-blow, I `specialised' in it, so to speak. I detest boasting. I tell this only to you, because I think it may amuse you and explain my windfall. In less than two minutes I had stretched five of the Chinamen senseless with that chin-blow, and the remaining three or four, seized with panic, fled." "What then?" I asked. "At once I led the man who had called for help out into the street. I saw he was pretty badly hurt, so with the help of my friend, who had now joined me again, I got him out of China Town, expecting to be set upon at any moment by friends of those Chinamen, thirsting for revenge. Though he had called `_Au secours_!' he was not French, it seemed. He was British Portuguese, though he lived in Mexico, he told me later. We got him to the hospital. `I must have your name--I must have your name,' he exclaimed quite excitedly, as I was leaving, I remember. `You have rendered me a service I shall never forget--never. You must come and see me to-morrow.' I told him I could not do that, as I was leaving early next morning for Raymund, on my way to the Yosemite Valley. But I said I hoped we might meet again some day, and, as he insisted upon my doing so, I gave him a card with my address--my London club address. It was at the club that I found, yesterday morning, the communication from his lawyers." "And by Gad!" I exclaimed enthusiastically, "you deserve this `bit of luck,' as you call it, Frank. I think you acted splendidly!" "Oh, for Heaven's sake don't become emotional, old chap," he said hurriedly. "If you knew how I hate gush, you wouldn't." "It isn't gush," I answered. "What wouldn't I have given to see you buckling up those Chinamen one after another. Splendid!" I turned to Violet. "I congratulate you," I said, taking her hand, "on marrying a real man. I think the two of you are the pluckiest pair I have ever met. It will be long before I forget that incident on the roof of Chateau d'Uzerche. But for you, neither Frank nor I would be alive to-day." "Nor the Baronne, nor Dago Paulton," she added mischievously. "Oh, yes, I am a heroine! A heroine to save such very precious lives!" "Are you not grateful to the Baronne?" I asked quickly. "After all, she did adopt you, and bring you up." "Yes," the girl answered, with a swift, reproachful glance, "she adopted me and brought me up, but only that I might help to further her own ends. She didn't adopt me out of affection, I can assure you." I saw that I had again trodden upon thin ice, so I quickly changed the topic.