“Yes; but I want to meet this very man, this Scélérat.”
“O dear!” groaned Will, “if he is so anxious to meet the Atrocious, I’m afraid he’ll pounce on the ‘impostor’ as we go to hang it!”
Poor Will! The plot had quite turned his brain!
“Try chivalry again,” Stephen whispered to Charles.
“Well, we are too chivalrous to put off the rescue, only because one of us wishes to encounter this Bélître Scélérat,” cunning Charley observed. “At least,” he added, “I hope we are too chivalrous—in France they would be.”
In his hands chivalry was a mighty lever, one by which foolish Marmaduke could be turned, and made to act as they saw fit.
“Well, then, let us go this evening,” Marmaduke answered.
The plotters were delighted. By skilful management their would-be leader proved very tractable.
Will, who had hitherto held his peace, now exclaimed with unfeigned enthusiasm, “How eagerly Sauterelle will welcome us!”