“So that is the real secret out at last,” said Lafayette, with a light laugh.  “You would love to fight for France.”

“Yes, sir; and it makes you laugh.  I have not told it to any one else; I knew they would laugh.”

“But you expected better things of me.  Forgive me, lad, I was not laughing at you; yet you must learn not to mind the laughter of others.  Whenever a man is in earnest there will always be some to ridicule what they term his folly.  He is something of a hero who can stand being laughed at.”

“Sir, did you not say to my father only to-day as you sat at dinner in the hall, that France was groaning under oppression, and there was no knowing what would be the end of it?”

“I did, Richard, I did.”

“Then, Monsieur de Lafayette, it might be that some day I might cross the sea to help France.”

The Marquis laughed softly and patted the boy’s head.

“So that is your dream.  I hope freedom may be bought without blood, but—­”

“But you do not think so, sir.”

“Why should you say that?”

“Partly because of the way you say it, partly because I have been told that you are farseeing.  I have listened so eagerly to all the stories told about you.”

“If such a fight for freedom came in France, it would be far more terrible than the war here,” and the Marquis made the statement rather to himself than to the boy.

“Then it may be my duty to come and help you,” said Richard.

“If the opportunity should come, see that your adventurous spirit does not make it your duty whether it be so or not.  There are some years to pass before these young limbs of yours are fit for fighting, or this brain of yours has to make a decision.  You have a good father and mother, they will guide you.  Dream your dreams, and I doubt not, my friend Richard Barrington will become a hero to many.  Are you coming back to the house with me?  Within an hour I am leaving.”

“You are going back to France?”

“Yes.”

“It is a wonderful land, isn’t it?”

“To a true man his own country is always a wonderful land.”

“Yes, and I am mostly French,” said the boy.

“No, lad.  You are an American, a Virginian.  Be proud of it.”

“I am proud of it, sir; yet a Virginian gentleman might fight for France.”

“And France might be glad to claim his sword.  Yes, that is true.  Well, lad, come in peace or in war, do not fail to make inquiry in Paris for Lafayette.  He shall return you something of the courtesy which has been shown to him in this country and in your father’s house.”

“Thank you, oh, thank you a thousand times.  I can talk about it to my mother now.  She shall share my dreams.”

As he went toward the house he looked back across the waters of the bay.  Yet another sail, with the sun upon it, was fading slowly into the distant haze.