"He murdered my father," she said.
The young men bowed gravely. Then Dario resumed:
"But the others?..."
"Let them go and get hanged somewhere else! It's much better for us. The band arrested and handed over to justice would have meant an inquiry, a trial, the whole adventure spread broadcast. Was that to our interest? The Marquis de Beaugreval advised us to settle our affairs among ourselves."
Errington sighed:
"Our affairs are all settled. The secret of the diamonds is lost."
Far away, northwards, towards Brittany, the boat was moving away.
That same evening, towards nine o'clock, after having intrusted Maître Delarue to the care of the widow Amoureux—all he thought of was getting a good night's rest and returning to his office as quickly as possible—and after having enjoined on the widow absolute silence about the assault of which she had been the victim, Errington and Dario harnessed their horses to the caravan. Saint-Quentin led One-eyed Magpie behind it. They returned by the stony path up the gorge to the ruins of Roche-Périac. Dorothy and the children resumed possession of their lodging. The three young men installed themselves in the cells of the tower.
Next morning, early, Archibald Webster mounted his motor-cycle. He did not return till noon.