"Amélie, you frighten me," said Naundorff.
"Cast away your fears," she cried. "René will save us. Defenders will spring out of the earth. Courage, my father; calmness, my husband," and she gave a hand to each of the men. "We are a council of war. Let us plan our course of action."
Naundorff kissed her forehead, saying: "I follow you," fascinated by her spirit.
"Our two aims," she proceeded, "are to recover the papers and enter France secretly."
"Regarding the first," said René, "trust to me. The spy shall not return to France enriched by his spoils."
"Beware of the spilling of blood!" said Naundorff. "Our cause is else lost."
René and Amélie made no rejoinder.
"Concerning the voyage to France," continued the Marquis, "we must first dispose of Volpetti. Were he to precede us, our fate should be imprisonment. In the meanwhile, Mr. and Miss O'Ranleigh," and he made his companions a mock bow, "must not forget their role of musicians journeying across the channel in search of employment. A happy circumstance favors our project. A French merchant vessel, the Polipheme, lies in the harbor. The captain is indebted to me for favors. I met him on the wharf this morning and observed that I might have need of him later. I can count upon his loyalty."
"Father, the sky grows clear!" cried Amélie.
"God grant it may!" said Naundorff.