“If she was a French soldier, that would be quite right,” Charles admitted carefully. “But, she is the daughter of a noble duke.”
“If she were,” Marmaduke corrected, triumphing even in defeat. But he was open to reason, and said no more about interjections.
From time to time every boy except Marmaduke was irresistibly tempted to shoot a cheering glance toward Henry; but whenever this worthy could catch an offender’s eye through the leafy branches, he scowled so horribly that the offender instantly beheld something very attractive down the river.
“Now then, let us draw our conclusions,” said Marmaduke; “first, where can this prison be?”
“The letter says up this stream,” the Sage returned. “I—I guess perhaps it must be ‘Nobody’s House.’”
“That place! George, you are getting very crazy to say that! Well, we shall see as we go up the river; for, of course, as soon as we see the prison we shall know it’s the prison. Now, boys, see what an interesting fact is given us. The letter is dated July 10th, yesterday; therefore it has been floating only one day! How fast the current has swept it along!”
The boys had paid no attention to the date that Henry affixed to the letter, but they did not think the velocity very great.
“But, boys, there are some things strange in this;” Marmaduke observed. “In fact, there is one thing very strange—yes, very strange.”
The plotters, Henry included, quaked with fear. Was their ingenious scheme, the much-loved plot, which had cost so much “blood and treasure,” to come to nought? Had Marmaduke detected some flaw in the letter which had escaped their notice? Were they about to be unmasked in all their wickedness?
O plotters, your scheme, which was based and reared on fraud, was to proceed successful to the end.