"Very well. Release those children, Monsieur Rondel. Madam, you have imposed upon us; you have tricked us in order to get to Ostend at our expense. Now go, and take your children with you."
She pointed dramatically at the door, but the woman retained her position, only moving to cuff the boy, who was kicking Henderson on his shins. Then, setting her hands on her hips she said defiantly:
"They promised me passage to Dunkirk, and they must take me there."
"Who promised you?"
"Those men," pointing to them, "and the burgomaster."
"Yes," admitted Henderson, "we agreed with the burgomaster to take her out of the country. We signed a paper to that effect."
"But she is a Belgian. And she is not the person she claimed to be."
To this neither Rondel nor Henderson had an answer.
"See here," said Uncle John, "I'll untangle this matter in a jiffy. Here is money; give it to the woman and tell her to get out—or we'll eject her by force."
The woman grabbed the money eagerly, but after placing it in an ample pocket she said: "I will go no place but Dunkirk. I will not leave you until you take me there."