“So, you see, Hester, it is very important that you should undertake it, and it will be very kind of you, too.”
“I would gladly undertake a great deal more than that for the poor man,” said Hester earnestly. “When must I do it?”
“Now—at once. The sooner the better. He usually goes to the bower at the foot of the garden after breakfast.”
Without a word, but with a glance that spoke volumes, the maiden ran to the bower.
What she said to the Frenchman we need not write down in detail. It is sufficient to note the result. In the course of a short time after she had entered the bower, a loud shout was heard, and next moment Laronde was seen rushing towards the house with a flushed countenance and the vigour of an athlete!
“My little girl has been too precipitate, I fear,” remarked Hugh Sommers to the middy.
“Your little girl is never ‘too’—anything!” replied the middy to Hugh, with much gravity.
The ex-Bagnio slave smiled, but whether at the reply or at the rushing Frenchman we cannot tell.
When Laronde reached his room he found Peter the Great there, on his knees, packing a small valise.
“Hallo! Peter, what are you doing? I want that.”