"Mademoiselle, my dearest wish has always been to make my fortune. Ma foi! shall I refuse it when it comes begging at my door?
"'So be it. Vive l'Amerique!' I cry. 'Give me my instructions.'
"And monsieur does give me my instructions.
"I am to be hand and glove with Monsieur le Capitaine; I am to learn his history off by heart and write it down for my Mortlake to study; and when he falls in battle I am to win my reward, but not till then. I am encouraged by every inducement to be the assassin myself. I am assured that if Captain Brand does not die in the course of twelve months, Monsieur Mortlake can do nothing for me; and I laugh to myself, and say:
"'I shall watch my Mortlake.'
"'And what will monsieur do until I return to England?' I say.
"'I'll pigeon the green hands in the gambling saloons,' he tells me, 'and have a neat little sum to carry us through the plot.'
"So we make up our plans, and I follow Captain Brand to Liverpool.
"The last act of friendship which my principal does for me is to send after me a servant to attend me.
"'A trusty fellow,' writes M. Mortlake, 'who will help you with the captain. He is an unscrupulous chap, and might do that little job for you. Thoms is a cute fellow, and won't betray us.'