LAND & WATER 
February 15, 191 7 
{Continued from page 20) 
two or three times already in the street." 
A dust cloak outlined her figure and shoulders, which 
were wide and rather well-developed. A veil fell around tlie 
hrini of her felt hat. She gave Simeon a telegram to read. 
Then they talked for a moment, seefned to be taking their 
bearings, passed by the cafe and stopped a little lower down. 
Here Simeon wrote a few words on a sheet of note-paper 
and jianded it to his companion. She left him and went back 
into the town. Simeon resumed his walk by tlie riverside. 
" You must not stay here, captain," said Don Luis. 
" hut the enemy doesn't seem to be on his guard." pro- 
tested Patrice. " He's not turning round." 
" Its better to be prudent, captain. What a pity that 
we can't have a look at what Simeon wrote down ! " 
" I might . . ." 
" Go after the lady ? No, no, captain. Without wishmg 
to offend you, you're not quite cut out for it. I'm not sure 
that even I . . ." 
And he walked away. 
Patrice waited. A few boats moved up or down the river. 
Mechanicallv, he glanced at their names. And suddenly, 
half an hour after Don Luis had left him, he heard the clearly- 
marked rhythm, the pulsation of one of those powerful 
motors whirh. for a few years past, have been fitted to certain 
b irges. 
At the bend of the river a barge appeared. As she passed 
in front of him, he distinctly and with no little excitement 
read the name of the BelU Helene ! 
She was gliding along at a fair pace, to the accompaniment 
of a regular, throbbing beat. She was big and broad in the 
beam, heavy and pretty deep in the water, though she 
appeared to carry no cargo. Patrice saw two watermen on 
boird, sitting and smoking carelessly. A dinghy floated 
h- h nd at the end of a painter. 
Tie barge went on and pissed out of sight at the turn. 
Patrice waited another hour before Don Luis came back. 
'■ Well ? " he asked. " Have you seen her ? " 
" Yes, they let go the dinghy, a mile and a half from here, 
and put in for Simeon." 
" Then he's gone with them ? " 
" Yes." 
" Without suspecting anything ? " 
" You're asking me too much, captain ! " 
" Never mind ! We've won ! We shall catch them up 
in the car, pass them and, at Vernon or somewhere, inform 
the mihtary and civil authorities, so that they may proceed 
to arrest the men and seize the boat." 
" We shall inform nobody, captain. We shall proceed to 
carry out these little operations ourselves." 
" Wliat dt) you mean ? Surely . . ." 
The two looked at each other. Patrice had been unable to 
dis.sernble the thought that occurred to his mind. Don Luis 
showed no resentment : 
" You're afraid that I shall run away with the three hiindrea 
■ millions ? By Jingo, it's a largish parcel to hide in one's 
jacket-pocket ! " 
" Still," said Patrice, " may I ask what you intend to 
do ? " 
" You may, captain, but allow me to postpone my reply 
until we've really won. For the moment, we must first find 
the barge again." 
They went to the Hotel des Trois-Empereurs and drove off 
in the car towards Vernon. This time they were both silent. 
TliC road joined the riser a few miles lower down, at the 
bottom of the steep hill which begins at Rosny. Just as 
they reached Rosny, the Belle Helene was entering the long 
loop which curves out to La Roche-Guyon. turns back and 
joins the h.gh-road again at Bonnigres. She would need at 
least three hours to cover the distance, whereas the car, 
climbing the hill and keeping straight aliead, arrived at 
Bonni;.;res in fifteen minutes. 
They drove th-ough the village. There was an inn a little 
way beyond it, on the right. Don Luis made his chauffeur 
stop here : 
■ If we are not back by twelve to-night," he said, " go 
i nine to Paris. Will you come with me, captain .' " 
Patrice followed him towards the right, whence a small 
load led them to the river bank. They followed this for a 
< juarter of an hour. At last Don Luis found what he appeared 
to be seeking, a boat fastened to a stake, not far from a 
villa with closed shutters. Djn Luis unhooked the chain. 
It was about seven o'clock in the evening. Night was 
(.illing fast, but a brilliant moonlight lit the landscape. 
■ First of all," said Don Luis, " a word of explanation. 
V' c re going to wait for the barge. She'll come in sight on 
tlie stroke of ten and find us lying across stream. I shall 
o.'der her to heave to ; and there's no doubt that, when tliey 
•i-'e your uniform by the light of the moon or of my electnc 
1 mp, they will obey. Then we shall go on board." 
" Suppose they refuse ? " 
" If they refuse, we shall board her by force. They r.'e 
three of them and two of us. So 
" And then .' " 
'* .'\nd then ? Well, there's every reason to believe that 
the two men forming the crew are only extra hands, employed 
by Simeon, but ignorant of his actions and knowing nothing 
of the nature of the cargo. Once we have reduced Sim- on 
to helplessness and paid them handsomely, they'll take the 
barge wherever I tell them. But, mind you -and this is 
what I was coming to — I mean to do with the barge exactly 
as I please. I shall hand over the cargo as and when I think 
fit. It's my booty, my prize. No one is entitled to it but 
myself" 
The officer drew himself up : 
" Oh, I can't agree to that, you know ! " 
" Very well, then give me your word of honour that) yoi will 
keep a secret which doesn't belong to you. After which, 
we'll say good-night and go our own ways. I'll do the board 
ing alone and you can go back to your own business. Ob- 
serve, however, that I am not insisting on an immediate reply. 
You have plenty of time to reflect and to take the decision 
which your interest, honour and conscience may dictate to 
you. For my part, excuse me, but you know my weakness : 
when circumstances give me a little spare time, I take ad- 
vantage of it to go to sleep. Carpe somnum, as the poet says. 
GooJ-night, captain." 
And, without another word, Don Luis wrapped himself in 
his great-coat sprang into the boat and lay down. 
Patrice had had to make a violent effort to restrain his 
an;er. Don Luis' calm, ironic tone and well-bred, bantering 
voice got on his nerves all the more because he felt the in- 
fluence of that strange man and fully recognised that he was 
incapable of acting without his assistance. Besides, he could 
not forget that Don Luis had saved his life and Corahe's. 
The hours slipped by. The adventurer slumbered peace- 
fully in the cool night air. Patrice hesitated what to do, 
seel^ing for some plan of conduct which would enable him 
to get at Simeon and rid himself of that implacable adversary 
and at the same time to prevent Don Luis from laying hands 
on t" e eno mous treasure. He was dismayed at the thought 
'of beuig his accomplice. And yet, when the first throbs 
of the motor were heard in the distance and when Don Luis 
awoke, Patrice was by his side, ready for action. 
They did not exchange a word. A village-clock struck ten. 
The Belle Helene was coming towards them. 
Patrice felt his excitement increase. The Belle Helene 
meant Simeon's capture, the recovery of |;he millions, Coralie 
out of danger, the end of that most hideous nightmare and 
the total extinction of Essares' handiwork. The engine 
was throbbing nearer and nearer. 
Its 
loud and regular 
beat sounded wide over the motionless Seine. Don Luis had 
taken the sculls and was pulling hard for the middle of the 
river. And suddenly they saw in the distance a black mass 
looming up in the white moonlight. Twelve or fifteen more 
minutes passed and the Belle Helene was before them, 
" ShaU I lend you a hand ?" whispered Patrice. "It 
looks as if you had the current Against you and as if you had 
a difficulty in getting along." 
" Not the lea5t difficulty," said Don Luis ; and he began to 
hum a tune. 
" But. . . ." 
Patrice was stupefied. The boat had turned in its own 
length and was. making for the bank. 
" But I say, I say," he said, " what's this ? Are you going 
back ? Are you giving up ? . . . I don't under- 
stand. . . . You're surely not afraid because they're 
three to our two ? " 
Don Luis leapt on shore at a bound and stretched out his 
hand to him. Patrice pushed it aside, growling : 
" Will you explain what it all means ? " 
" Take too long," replied Don Luis. " Just one question, 
though. You know that book I foun 1 in old Simeon's room. 
The Memoirs of Benjamin Franklin : did you see it when you 
were making your search ? " 
" Look here, it seems to me we have other things to . . . 
" It's an urgent question, captain." 
" Well, no, it wasn't there." 
" Then that's it," said Don Luis. " We've been- done 
brown, or rather, to be accurate, I have. Let's be off. 
captain, as fast as we can." 
Patrice was still in the boat. He pushed off abruptly and 
caught up the scull, muttering : 
" As I live, I beUeve the beggar's getting at me ! " 
He was ten yards from shore when he cried : 
" If you're afraid, I'll go alone. Don't want any help." 
"Right you are, captain!" replied Don Luis. "I'll 
expect you presently at the i.in." 
{To be continued.) 
