"What with all these signatures, it does look, Vicomte," said young Mr. Morris, "like the famous Declaration of Independence."
"Humph!" growled Josiah Langstroth, "if thee thinks, young man, that it is a declaration of independence, thee is very much mistaken."
"Not I," said René, laughing; and they went out to where Mistress Gainor's landau was waiting, and so home to the mother's house.
Here was a note from Schmidt.
Dear Children,
To say good-by is more than I will to bear. God bless you both! I go at once.
Johan Graf von Ehrenstein.
There were tears in the Pearl's eyes.
"He told me he would not say good-by. And is that his real name, René? No, it is not; I know that much."
René smiled. "Some day," he said, "I shall tell you."