"Not five minutes ago; I was jumping from my sloop. He wears a long traveling cloak and a broad winged hat." "Well, run up to number 10," said Giacinto. "He is there. Call out roughly, saying that two passengers have failed you at the eleventh hour and that you may now carry him and his servant. Demand a high price and simulate avarice. Be cautious. The man is a reader of faces." "Suppose he asks which is to be the first landing place?" "Say Dieppe, adding that he may be put off at Calais, Havre or Cherbourg if he prefer and pay well for the privilege. Act as tho your object were to exploit him." And Giacinto's face glowed with hatred. "And if he asks the hour of departure, say midnight and that he must be at the wharf by eleven, where the sloop will await him." "I shall do as you say. Is that all?" "I think not, indeed. Is your crew to be trusted?" "In what sense?" asked the astonished captain. "Will they keep mum about whatever takes place on board?" "My men are absolutely to be trusted." "Very well," said Louis Pierre, "I shall board the sloop at dusk and remain upon her until the gentleman and his servant arrive. You must have a sailor's dress ready for me, for I shall help run the sloop. You must be there also, Captain." "Very well," said Soliviac. "Are you ready to go all lengths?" asked Giacinto. The captain's frank, genial countenance became clouded. Corsair as he was and accustomed to bloody adventures, he hesitated before the executive justice of the Knights of Liberty, for he knew their vengeance to be terrible. But raising his head, he said: "All lengths." "Captain," said Giacinto, "the man we track is worse than a wolf. He merits a thousand deaths and we shall give him only one. If you desert us, we shall consider that you cease to be a Knight. Nevertheless, we shall take the matter into our own hands and trust you not to betray us." "Do you think I have joined the Knights to play the coward at the first test? I unconditionally agree to your proposition. And now, what of the other passengers?" "Arrange that they board before or after Volpetti." Soliviac bowed. Meanwhile, the Marquis's eye was applied to the keyhole of Volpetti's chamber, and watched that gentleman arrange his belongings. His wallet and toilet case lay near. René reflected that his treasure might be in either. Soon he was undeceived for he heard Volpetti say to Brosseur: "Where is it?" "Around my neck," and the valet pointed to a cord just visible above his collar. René could scarcely contain himself as a prospect of swift vengeance seemed near and he clutched Amélie's hand as she stood back of him, erect and self-possessed. Chapter IV MINE AND COUNTERMINE