CHAPTER XXXVI.
On reaching the mansion, Monsieur Gramont’s first interview was with Sergeant Perrin in the lower hall.
“So you missed seizing the person of Louis Lebeau?” said the Maire to the sergeant.
“Yes, Monsieur Gramont, we did; he was certainly not in the château, and you did not give us further instructions than to search the house, and keep a careful guard, which we did.”
“Till you heard the firing, sergeant, down at Palos Creek, and then you left only two of the men to keep watch—eh, mon ami?”
“Well, Monsieur le Maire, I thought I ought, under the circumstances, to see if we could be of any service in driving off those diables Anglais, but they had a heavy gun loaded with grape.”
“Never mind, sergeant; I am aware that grape is not easy of digestion, so you prudently retired.”
“Non, ma foi, monsieur, not till the Vengeance was fairly out of the creek. The coast-guard would not face the gun, and three men were killed and a great many wounded amongst the soldiers.”
“Bien, as that cannot be remedied, let us talk of what we have on hand; send one of your men for a lad called Joseph, belonging to this establishment.”
In a few minutes one of the men returned with the gardener’s grandson, who looked very frightened.