The aforesaid friends were almost bursting with curiosity.
“Give us the tip.”
Billy prodded Henri with his elbow.
“You’ll know soon enough,” was the unsatisfactory reply.
Henri led the way into the drawing-room at the left of the entrance.
Standing there to greet them was a queenly tall gentlewoman with one of the most sadly sweet faces that the friends of Henri had ever looked upon.
In courtesy to the American and the English boy she addressed them in the language they understood, somewhat haltingly, it is true, but so graciously that they felt completely at their ease.
“So you are the brave ones who were with my boy in his every hour of peril. Would that I could say all that I feel.”
It was Henri’s mother!
“Now you see to whom the sealed packet led me.”