"Agents of the royalist party whose names would mean nothing to you if I gave them."
"I was placed in your hands?"
"You were placed in my hands to be taken to America."
"I was with you in London, where two royalists who knew me, recognized me?"
"The two De Ferriers."
"Did a woman named Madame Tank see me?"
Bellenger was startled.
"You were noticed on the ship by a court-lady of Holland; a very clever courtier. I had trouble in evading her. She suspected too much, and asked too many questions; and would have you to play with her baby on the deck, though at that time you noticed nothing."
"But where does the idiot come into my story?"
"Sire, you have been unfortunate, but I have been a victim. When we landed in New York I went directly and made myself known to the man who was to act as purveyor of your majesty's pension. He astonished me by declaring that the dauphin was already there, and had claimed the pension for that year. The country and the language were unknown to me. The agent spoke French, it is true, but we hardly understood each other. I supposed I had nothing to do but present my credentials. Here was another idiot—I crave your majesty's pardon—"