what he considered a piquant position. Once, drawing at his pipe, as
little like an Englishman as possible, he tried to say with an English
accent, "Amusing and awkward situation!" but he said, "Damn funny and
chic!" instead. He had no idea that any particular harm would be done--
either by love or marriage; and neither seemed certain.

One day as Ferrol, entirely convalescent, was sitting in an arbour of the
Manor garden, half asleep, he was awakened by voices near him.

He did not recognise one of the voices; the other was Nic Lavilette's.

The strange voice was saying: "I have collected five thousand dollars--
all that can be got in the two counties. It is at the Seigneury. Here
is an order on the Seigneur Duhamel. Go there in two days and get the
money. You will carry it to headquarters. These are General Papineau's
orders. You will understand that your men--"

Ferrol heard no more, for the two rebels passed on, their voices becoming
indistinct. He sat for a few moments moveless, for an idea had occurred
to him even as Papineau's agent spoke.

If that money were only his!

Five thousand dollars--how that would ease the situation! The money
belonged to whom? To a lot of rebels: to be used for making war against
the British Government. After the money left the hands of the men who
gave it--Lavilette and the rest--it wasn't theirs. It belonged to a
cause. Well, he was the enemy of that cause. All was fair in love and
war!