“Three?” I asked.
“My wife and you and I. Say farewell to your friends and come! The vessel awaits us and our forces in France will at all events be ready.”
But Heaven was to prove still more unkind to our unfortunate leader.
“Who are these?” I exclaimed.
“The English police!” he cried. “We are betrayed!”
And indeed we were. A force of mounted policemen swept round the corner of the wood and trotted up to us, and in the midst of them we recognized the double-faced Hankey.
“What do you want, gentlemen?” asked the Marquis, calmly, though his eyes flashed dangerously at the traitor.
“We come in the Queen's name!” replied the officer in command. “Are you the Marquis de la Carrabasse?”
I am.
“I have a warrant, then, for your arrest.”