"Girl," sighed Naundorff, "you have inherited the intrepidity of your grandmother, Marie Antoinette and great-grandmother, Marie Thérèse, combined; I, the stoicism and passivity of my father. While I am with you, my blood rises and I believe in the impossible; my fears vanish, my dual personality merges into one and I assure myself that I am not a self-duped fool--God bless you!" "Father," she exclaimed, "you have not the right to surrender claims which your children inherit. Do you think that the iniquitous regime on the French throne will last indefinitely? Has not that wonderful colossus, Napoleon, rolled on the ground from his pedestal? Another usurper today rules our country. Is his hour never to come?" She was a picture of splendid anger and sublime indignation. "Amélie, you frighten me," said Naundorff. "Cast away your fears," she cried. "René will save us. Defenders will spring out of the earth. Courage, my father; calmness, my husband," and she gave a hand to each of the men. "We are a council of war. Let us plan our course of action." Naundorff kissed her forehead, saying: "I follow you," fascinated by her spirit. "Our two aims," she proceeded, "are to recover the papers and enter France secretly." "Regarding the first," said René, "trust to me. The spy shall not return to France enriched by his spoils." "Beware of the spilling of blood!" said Naundorff. "Our cause is else lost." René and Amélie made no rejoinder. "Concerning the voyage to France," continued the Marquis, "we must first dispose of Volpetti. Were he to precede us, our fate should be imprisonment. In the meanwhile, Mr. and Miss O'Ranleigh," and he made his companions a mock bow, "must not forget their role of musicians journeying across the channel in search of employment. A happy circumstance favors our project. A French merchant vessel, the Polipheme, lies in the harbor. The captain is indebted to me for favors. I met him on the wharf this morning and observed that I might have need of him later. I can count upon his loyalty." "Father, the sky grows clear!" cried Amélie. "God grant it may!" said Naundorff. "See!" exclaimed René. "There is the Polipheme." He drew his companions toward the window, and as they looked out, his face grew dark and he stammered: "There--he--comes!" Volpetti, alias the Count de Keller, in elegant traveling dress which accentuated his aristocratic Chateaubriand air, approached the Red Fish, followed by Brosseur. "They are coming here!" exclaimed René, and he dragged Amélie and Naundorff into concealment, returning himself to continue his scrutiny. "The devil turns him over to me at last." Chapter III RENÉ WAITS The Marquis's elation was equalled by that of the Carbonari below on beholding the entry of Volpetti and his servant. "We have him," whispered Giacinto. "And his confederate, also," answered Louis Pierre, which was the name of the other. "He seems quite a muscular fellow." "Leave him to me."