will drag us all in the mud if he gets his way with France. And
those who have watched with seeing eyes have always known that such
a time as the present must eventually come. For France will always
be the victim of a clever adventurer. We have foreseen it, and for
that reason we have treated as serious possibilities these false
Dauphins who have sprung up like mushrooms all over Europe and even
in America. And what have they proved? What have the Bourbons
proved in frustrating their frauds? That the son of Louis XVI. did
not die in the Temple. That is all. And Madame herself has
gathered further strength to her conviction that the little King was
not buried in that forgotten corner of the graveyard of Sainte
Marguerite. At the same time, she knows that none of these--neither
Naundorff, nor Havergault, nor Bruneau, nor de Richemont, nor any
other pretender--was her brother. No! The King, either because he
did not know he was King, or because he had had enough of royalty,
never came forward and never betrayed his whereabouts. He was to be
sought; he is still to be sought. And it is now that he is wanted."

"That is why I offer to tell you this story now. That is my reason
for bringing you to Farlingford now," said Colville, quietly. It
seemed that he must have awaited, as the wise do in this world, the
propitious moment, and should it never come they are content to
forego their purpose. He gave a light laugh and stretched out his
long legs, contemplating his strapped trousers and neat boots with
the eye of a connoisseur. "And should I be the humble means of
doing a good turn to France and others, will France--and others--
remember it, I wonder. Perhaps I hold in my hands the Hope of
France, Marquis."

He paused, and lapsed for a moment into thought. It was eight