And her face was so gloriously brave that the Knight of Liberty spoke with more than his accustomed frankness. "Your father did not go immediately to Paris, for we are watched and caution is necessary. Our original plan has been abandoned, namely, that your father intercede with his sister and the Marquis reunite the families attached to the cause. Were that program in progress, your presence in Paris would be of inestimable value. The father and daughter together would present a picture calculated to quiet all lingering doubt. The impression you both produced upon Giacinto and me in the Red Fish would be repeated upon all beholders. But as matters stand today, your very faces would be your condemnation." Amélie fixed her brave eyes on the knight's dark face. "You mean," she said, "that Volpetti has been saved." "He has, that is to say some of the sailors reached the shore. How they survived fire, explosion, cannon, bullets and shipwreck I cannot say--" Amélie buried her face in her hands, but the springs of her wonderful iron will soon recovered their tension. "And how has this been discovered?" she asked. "I mean that some have been saved?" "You know, that on reaching French soil, we arranged to travel separately and by circuitous routes until we should reach some neighboring port, from which each on a different day should take the diligence. At Dinan, we spent our first night. "Yes," said Amélie. "At Dinan, Giacinto visited inns and taverns, conversed with sailors and fishermen and from them learned the story he too well knew, the tragedy in which he had played so prominent a part. He was told that two or three sailors had floated ashore at Pleneuf, been given shelter by fishermen and were now recovering." "If that be all," said the girl, with a look of relief, "why conjecture the worst? Volpetti was not in the best condition for swimming." "God grant your wish." "When René left me after our landing, he assured me that an inviolable asylum awaited me here and a faithful guardian in Jean Vilon. 'From father to son have the Vilons served the de Brazes,' he said. The present steward's father was executed for his adhesion to the throne and altar. The castle contains places of concealment known only to Jean and myself. If the attempt were made to seize you, 'twould be impossible while breath remains in Jean's body. He thinks that you are an unhappy girl, distantly related to me whom I have rescued from enforced entry into a convent." "Louis Pierre, I know that you and Giacinto stand for ideas widely at variance with those of which my father is a symbol; nevertheless, my faith in you is absolute. You are now my guardian angel," and she extended her hand to him. He did not dare touch, much less to kiss it. His face was transfigured, beautified, as he solemnly said: