"Under the church floor?"
"No, under the floor of his house."
"Where is his house?"
She gave full directions how to reach it.
"Untie the prisoner," Hamilton ordered, and it was quickly done.
"Monsieur Roussillon, I congratulate you upon your narrow escape.
Go to the priest's house, Monsieur, and bring me that flag. It
would be well, I assure you, not to be very long about it. Captain
Farnsworth, you will send a guard with Monsieur Roussillon, a
guard of honor, fitting his official dignity, a Corporal and two
men. The honorable Mayor of this important city should not go
alone upon so important an errand. He must have his attendants."
"Permit me to go myself and get it," said Alice, "I can do it
quickly. May I, please, Monsieur?"
Hamilton looked sharply at her.
"Why, certainly, Mademoiselle, certainly. Captain Farnsworth, you
will escort the young lady."
"It is not necessary, Monsieur."
"Oh, yes, it is necessary, my dear young lady, very necessary; so
let's not have further words. I'll try to entertain his honor, the
Mayor, while you go and get the flag. I feel sure, Mademoiselle,
that you'll return with it in a few minutes. But you must not go
alone."
Alice set forth immediately, and Farnsworth, try as hard as he
would, could never reach her side, so swift was her gait.
When they arrived at Father Beret's cabin, she turned and said
with imperious severity:
"Don't you come in; you stay out here: I'll get it in a minute.
Pages:
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201