They handed the twelve pounds agreed upon to the driver, adding another as a token of their satisfaction at the speed at which he had driven them, and then enquired for the house of William Dawkins.  It was close by, and upon knocking at the door, it was opened by the man himself.

“I have a message to deliver to you, in private,” O’Neil said.

The man nodded, and led the way indoors, where the letter was handed to him.

“That is all right,” he said.  “My craft is always ready to set sail, at an hour’s notice, and if the wind holds fair I will land you on the French coast before nightfall.  I see that your business is urgent, or you would not have put on disguises before leaving London.  I suppose you have brought other clothes to land in?”

“We have not,” O’Neil said.  “We came away in such a hurry that we did not think of it until on the road, and then we thought that we might procure them here.”

“There will be no difficulty about that,” the sailor said.  “I will go out, and warn my men that we shall sail in half an hour, and then I can get any garments that you desire; for, doubtless, you do not wish to attract comment by the purchase of clothes that would seem unfitted to your present position.”

“That is so,” O’Sullivan said, “and we shall gladly embrace your offer.  We should like three suits, such as are worn by persons of fair position in France, and one proper for a serving man.”

“I cannot get you quite French fashion, sir, but they do not differ much from our own; and with a cloak each, I have no doubt that you would pass without attracting attention—­that is, of course, if you speak French well.”

“As well as English,” O’Neil said.  “Here are seven pounds in gold, which will, I should think, be sufficient.  If not, we are provided with French gold, for use after landing there.”

“I have no doubt it will suffice, sir.  If not, I will pay what is the excess, and you can settle with me afterwards.”

In three-quarters of an hour after their arrival at Rye, they were dressed in their new disguises and on board the little lugger, which at once started down the river, which was at that time much more free from shoals and difficulties than it is at present.

“Your boat seems fast,” Desmond remarked, as, having cleared the mouth of the river, she put out to sea.

“She is fast, sir; the fastest thing that sails out of Rye.  She needs be, for the gentlemen who come to me are always in a hurry.”

“I suppose you have no fear of English cruisers?”

“Not at all.  I have the order you brought with you, and have only to show it to any English ship of war that overhauls us, for them to let us go on at once.  I am careful when I get near the French coast, for although their big craft never venture out far, there are numbers of chasse-maree patrolling the coast.  However, even if caught by them, it would be but a temporary detention, for I am well known at Etaples, which is always my port, unless specially directed to land my passengers elsewhere.”