I thought now it was time for me to make my entrance. I opened the door, therefore, and presented myself.
“My name is Francis Burnham, my good fellow. I am an officer in the American Navy.”
“How came you here and what would you do?”
“That scoundrel du Trémigon sent him here to compromise me,” the Countess interposed.
“The dastard!” exclaimed the servant.
“But Monsieur did not think it was I,” continued Mademoiselle. “You remember when I went on that errand for Her Majesty the Queen?” I started at this. Éspiau nodded. “This gentleman had the good fortune to save me from capture then. I should have been robbed of those papers. I found him here this evening. He had abjured his errand and was upon the point of departure when——”
“My friend,” I interrupted, “what Mademoiselle says is absolutely true, and I believed, furthermore, that I was doing her a service.”
“I need not your assurance for that, Monsieur,” said the old man proudly; “the house of de Rivau does not lie.”
“I wish the same might be said of the house of du Trémigon; but be that as it may, I am not anxious to forfeit any man’s good-will.”
“Not even that of a servant?” he interrupted.