“Indeed, monsieur?” There was warning in the look she gave him.
“But,” he plunged on boldly, “our soldiers still hold it, that is, until, until someone shall win it for us for our very own, absolutely. Ducal grandfathers never did more than that for France.”
10“Where are you leading, Michel? Please take me with you.”
“To a question. Don’t you think ‘someone’ is risking a great deal for a little walk on shore?”
Before she answered he knew that she had seen through all his blundering wiles.
“Are there guerrillas there?” she asked pensively.
“You should know. But they say, that out of Tampico especially––”
She was gazing toward the land, sandy and flat. Once she looked back with lively distaste at the rocking ship. Now she interrupted.
“It would be fun traveling overland–and such excitement!”
Ney’s shoulders went up in despair.