“Remember that I leave you at the boat, and that you must find out, with Humphrey’s aid, whether the English government can change this for you. It may be worthless now, except for its value in gold,” Dian said to Lisle.
They locked the chest and laid the two bags of money on the shelf next to the horn drinking cups. It was late and Jean was beginning to yawn.
Humphrey went about through the narrow alcove-like rooms beyond, putting a rug here and a pillow there, intent on everyone’s comfort and glad indeed to have something to do, for he was sorely troubled. It was all very well to spend one’s time over an old chest, and he had been as interested as the others; but to-morrow they were to make a run for their lives! He knew that Dian had some plan, and that there had been no chance to tell him. He was relieved beyond words when the shepherd called them all together.
Years afterward Humphrey used to recall that night to himself as he sat in a corner of his own fire-side, his pipe between his lips. Neighbors happening in would have to speak to him several times before he would be aware of their presence. “Ah—yes—welcome in. I was thinking back a long way, a long way,” he would say. Dian in their midst telling them about “to-morrow!”
It was very simple. Dian and Humphrey had passports, being citizens, one of France, the other one of England. There had been no trouble about them. Dian’s parents, who were not living, were known to have been good, honest citizens in their day, who had been oppressed by the aristocrats. He himself was a shepherd. Humphrey was a farmer who had been in France on a holiday. They would pass out at the gates after the children had gone through.
And how was that to be done? The little Vivi again. Georges Fardou, her friend, was on guard at sundown. That Dian knew well. He was always there when the carts went out. A boy, a friend of Vivi’s, would drive a vegetable cart, the market gardener would be there himself to see that all was in order. He would explain to the gatemen that the lad was taking Raoul’s place and was quite to be trusted. The lad would be Lisle!
The children, Rosanne and Jean and Marie Josephine, were to run about with Vivi. She was Georges Fardou’s friend and he never resisted her appeals. He would let them run through and play on the other side for a while. They would be met by Champar, who had fleet horses ready. They must not fear. That was as definite a plan as they could agree upon.
All knew that there was a great risk, but there was little fear in the hearts of any of them that night in the cellar. They sat about on one of the big rugs and ate their late supper of bread and cheese and chocolate. Then they went to their various cosy beds of shawls and rugs, and slept soundly until morning.
It was while Humphrey was frying the bacon for breakfast, assisted by Marie Josephine, who stood by the frying pan and turned the slices with a one-pronged fork when they began to brown nicely, that Lisle spoke with Dian.
“I am glad that I shall not be with the others going through the gates, for some one might recognize me and suspect them all. I am so much taller than the others, too big to be a playmate for Vivi. Tell me, Dian, what will become of her. I do not like to leave her unbefriended. There must be something we can do for her.”