For another ten minutes or more the attack lasted. Then his muscles unknotted and strength came back to his limbs.
He turned himself over to see who had come to his aid.
Out of the misty moonlit sea a young face looked at him from under a mop of short curls.
"You didn't come a moment too soon, my boy," he said.
There was a tired look about Pansy, but that did not prevent her dimpling in an effort not to smile. And to hide her mirth she dived suddenly and struck out towards the land.
Le Breton struck out too. He reached the shore first.
Pansy, however, did not go in his direction. She turned off and landed where the shadows were the thickest.
From where the man stood, he saw what looked to be a slim, fragile boy of about fourteen, who staggered slightly with fatigue as he made towards the most shadowed pair of steps leading into the hotel grounds.
Quickly Le Breton went towards his rescuer, with the idea of lending a hand, for it looked as if the boy were thoroughly worn out.
By the time he reached her Pansy was leaning against the wall under cover of the thickest shadows.