“Humph!” muttered Monsieur Gramont, “what can they be about? This Lebeau, depend on it, is another Englishman. Keep your eye on him, sergeant. Did you observe anything particular at the château?” “No, Monsieur Gramont; they all seemed pretty well up to their parts; that big fellow, that passes himself off as Pierre Bompart, rather startled me; but I’ll swear he is neither deaf nor dumb. When he put his mark to my book, he made one as large as his foot, and I could see his eyes twinkle with suppressed laughter. What do you intend to do, Monsieur Gramont? It will not do to let these English aristocrats loose over the country.” “No; such is not my intention,” said Bertram Gramont, “but we have them safe enough; so let us find out their designs. There is something going on between them and this ingenious Monsieur Plessis, who has contrived hitherto to keep his head on his shoulders marvellously well. Do you keep a watch upon this Louis Lebeau. I will send a messenger to Rouen, and make some inquiries there; but do nothing rash. I will manage before long to have the whole of them in a net they will not get out of.” As Sergeant Perrin and his men were bound to obey the instructions of Monsieur Gramont, he replied— “As you wish, monsieur, I am ready to follow up your instructions.” Shortly after, the sergeant and his follower left the château. The following day Bertram Gramont received letters from Paris; he and Augustine Vadier were together when they arrived. One was an official letter from the Minister of Police, and contained but the following words:— “Madame de Coulancourt has obtained permission to retire for the summer months to her Château de Coulancourt. Have the movements of all the persons in the château carefully watched.” “I begin to fancy I see through their movements,” said Bertram Gramont. “I am satisfied that Mademoiselle de Tourville is Madame de Coulancourt’s daughter. That lady is coming down here, and I’ll venture my life they have a project in their heads of escaping, with these Englishman, some way or other, to England.” “Eh, bien!” said Augustine Vadier, “let them make the trial, you will gain your ends. She will forfeit her estates if she is mad enough to attempt such a thing; and just as they are on the point of escaping, you can entrap them, and hand them over to the mercy of the law.” “Yes, that will do very well,” replied Monsieur Gramont; “but I have taken a great fancy to the daughter; if I could make her my wife, and throw these Englishmen into prison, I shall do much better. If I fail I have still the other remedy. In a few days I will pay a friendly, visit to Coulancourt, and see madame; as maire of the district, it is my duty to do so.” Augustine Vadier looked gloomy and discontented, but he made no further remark or opposition to his patron’s projects. CHAPTER XXXI.