Lord Blackadder was on the platform with the rest, and directly he saw me he came up with the same arrogant air, curiously blended with aggrieved helplessness.

“This will end badly, Colonel Annesley.  I give you fair warning.  I shall appeal to the authorities.  We shall be on French soil directly, and I know something of French law.  It affords protection to all who claim it against such people as you.”

“If you talk like that I’ll give you some reason to seek the protection of the gendarmes or police,” I cried, but checked myself at once.

I had made up my mind how to deal with him, but the time was not yet.

“Your insolence, sir, outsteps all bounds, and you shall answer for it, I tell you.”

But now the cry was raised “En voiture! en voiture!” and we were peremptorily hustled back to our seats.  Lord Blackadder hurried to his compartment at the end of the train some way from mine and the coupe.  As I passed the latter, seeing the road clear, I gave the signal, and, taking out my railway carriage key, quickly slipped in.

She received me with her rare sweet smile, that was the richest payment a man could ask.

“The critical moment is at hand, Lady Claire,” I said, speaking mysteriously.  “It is essential that we should have a few last words together.  Naturally we must now be guided very much by the way things happen, but so far as possible we must prepare for them.  We have managed capitally so far.  I don’t believe Lord Blackadder has any idea you are in the train, and I much doubt that he expects to find Lady Henriette at Culoz.  You think she will really be there?”

“I feel sure of it.  It is just what she would do.”

“Then everything will depend on you.  You must be alert and prompt, on the qui vive to seize your opportunity.  It will be your business to make your way to her with the dummy the instant the train stops.”

“I shall have to find her.”

“That is the first and chief thing on your part.  You must find her at once.  There are very few minutes for the whole job.  Find her, exchange burthens, send her to the train for Aix-les-Bains.  It will be waiting there.  You hurry back to this coupe, lie low, and, if all goes well, you will be travelling on toward Amberieu before the enemy has the least notion what has occurred.”

“But one word, please.  What will the enemy have been doing at Culoz?  Say they catch sight of Henriette as soon as we do?”

“I hope and trust they may.  I count upon that as part of my programme.”

“But they will catch her, stop her, deprive her of our dear little Ralph.”

“Wait, wait.  You will see.  It will be settled in a moment now.  But before it is too late let us arrange how you may communicate with me.  We shall both be moving about, and the best address I can give will be in London.  Telegraph to me there to my club, the Mars and Neptune, Piccadilly.  I will send instructions there to have all telegrams opened and retelegraphed to me at once.  They shall be kept informed of my whereabouts daily.  But now, here we are, close to Culoz and already slowing down.  Look out, please.”