"When do they come, sire?"
"Any moment; they left—or should have done so—the same time as yourself. His orders were the same."
Rapidly as a man could think, so thought I.
"How long will you wait for them?"
"Until dawn, no longer. Then we sail."
A glimmer of hope—de la Mora might be delayed. Without any clearly defined purpose I went on and carefully gave Serigny every detail of information which could be valuable touching the expected trouble in the colonies. Of this my hands should, in any event, be clean. I even handed him the King's new commission directed to Bienville, whereof I was so proud to be the bearer. Whilst ridding my mind of these matters, I could not have said what course I meditated. A boat grating against the vessel's side set me all a tremble, but it was only a letter of instructions. Making some poor excuse to Serigny for the moment, I entered the yawl as it left the ship to go ashore. A well-known voice hailed us ere we made the land.
"Ahoy there, the boat," and through the shadows I made out the form of him I dreaded most to see.
"Boatman, can you put three of us aboard yonder vessel?"
"Aye, sir, it is from her I have just come."
"Is thy craft a fit one to carry ladies?"