"I cannot wait. I am in haste to return," said De Courval.
"Le diable, Citizen! He will be furious. We sail at once—at once; you will not be delayed."
René thought otherwise.
"Very well; I can but give your reply. It seems to me strange. You will hear of it some day, Citizen."
As soon as the officer disappeared, René said to his boatman: "Quick! Get away—get me ashore as soon as you can!"
Pursuit from a man-of-war boat was possible, if one lay ready on the farther side of the corvette. He had, however, only a ten minutes' row before he stood beside Mr. Gouverneur on the Battery slip.
"I am a little relieved," said the older man. "Did you get the acknowledgment of receipt you wanted?"
"No, sir. It was conditioned upon my going aboard to the captain's cabin."
"Ah, well, I do not suppose that Mr. Randolph will care."
"Probably not." René had desired some evidence of his singular mission, but the immense importance of it as proof of his good faith was not at the time fully apprehended. The despatch had gone on its way, and he had done honorably his enemy's errand.