"Yes!"
"This afternoon . . . reaching Le Havre before dawn."
"Yes."
"There to seek out Le Monarque. She lies in the harbour, and her commander is Captain Barre."
"Yes! yes!"
"You will hand him over a packet, which I will give you anon, and then return here as swiftly as you went."
"Is that all?" he asked in obvious disappointment, "and I who had hoped that you would ask me to give my life for you!"
"The faithful and speedy performance of this errand, Gaston, is worth the most sublime self-sacrifice, if this be purposeless. The packet will contain full instructions for Captain Barre how and where to find Prince Charles Edward. Le Monarque is ready equipped for the expedition, but . . ." she paused a moment as if half ashamed of the admission, "I had no one whom I could entrust with the message."
Gaston de Stainville was too keen a diplomatist to venture on this delicate ground. He had never once mentioned her husband's name, fearing to scare her, or to sting her pride. He knew her to be far too loyal to allow condemnation of her lord by the lips of another man; all he said now was a conventional:
"I am ready!"