"My instructions were to take you out beyond this point," went on Carlisle; "and then I was to lose you, as I have said. I have had no definite instructions as to how that should be done, my dear Countess." His eyes twinkled as he stiffened to his full height and almost met the level of her own glance. "The agent who conveyed my orders to me--he comes from Kentucky, you see--said to me that while I could not bow-string you, it would be quite proper to put you in a sack and throw you overboard. 'Only,' said he to me, 'be careful that this sack be tightly tied; and be sure to drop her only where the water is deepest. And for God's sake, my dear young man,' he said to me, 'be sure that you do not drop her anywhere along the coast of my own state of Kentucky; for if you do, she will untie the sack and swim ashore into my constituency, where I have trouble enough without the Countess St. Auban, active abolitionist, to increase it. Trouble '--said he to me--'thy name is Josephine St. Auban!' "My dear lady, to that last, I agree. But, there you have my orders. You are, as may be seen, close to the throne, so far as we have thrones in this country." "Then I am safe until we get below the Kentucky shore?" she queried calmly. "I beg you not to feel disturbed,--" he began. "Will you set me down at Louisville?" "Madam, I can not." "You have not been hampered with extraordinary orders. You have just said, the carte blanche is in your hands." "I have no stricter orders at any time than those I take from my own conscience, Madam. I must act for your own good as well as for that of others." Her lip curled now. "Then not even this country is free! Even here there are secret tribunals. Even here there are hired bravos." "Ah, Madam, please, not that! I beg of you--" "Excellently kind of you all, to care so tenderly for me--and yourselves! I, only a woman, living openly, with ill will for none, paying ray own way, violating no law of the land--" "Your words are very bitter, Madam." "The more bitter because they are true. You will release me then at Cairo, below?" "I can not promise, Madam. You would be back in Washington by the first boats and trains." "So, the plot runs yet further? Perhaps you do not stop this side the outer ways of the Mississippi? Say, St. Louis, New Orleans?" "Perhaps even beyond those points," he rejoined grimly. "I make no promises, since you yourself make none." "What are your plans, out there, beyond?" "You ask it frankly, and with equal frankness I say I do not know. Indeed, I am not fully advised in all this matter. It was imperative to get you out of Washington, and if so, it is equally imperative to keep you out of Washington. At least for a time I am obliged to construe my carte blanche in that way, my dear lady. And as I say, my conscience is my strictest officer." "Yes," she said, studying his face calmly with her steady dark eyes.