‘You happen to be in my boat, M. le Comte,’ said Renee.

‘Permit me, madame.’  He had set one foot on shore, with his back to Beauchamp, and reached a hand to assist her step into the boat.

Beauchamp caught fast hold of the bows while Renee laid a finger on Count Henri’s shoulder to steady herself.

The instant she had taken her seat, Count Henri dashed the scull’s blade at the bank to push off with her, but the boat was fast.  His manoeuvre had been foreseen.  Beauchamp swung on board like the last seaman of a launch, and crouched as the boat rocked away to the stream; and still Count Henri leaned on the scull, not in a chosen attitude, but for positive support.  He had thrown his force into the blow, to push off triumphantly, and leave his rival standing.  It occurred that the boat’s brief resistance and rocking away agitated his artificial equipoise, and, by the operation of inexorable laws, the longer he leaned across an extending surface the more was he dependent; so that when the measure of the water exceeded the length of his failing support on land, there was no help for it:  he pitched in.  His grimace of chagrin at the sight of Beauchamp securely established, had scarcely yielded to the grimness of feature of the man who feels he must go, as he took the plunge; and these two emotions combined to make an extraordinary countenance.

He went like a gallant gentleman; he threw up his heels to clear the boat, dropping into about four feet of water, and his first remark on rising was, ’I trust, madame, I have not had the misfortune to splash you.’

Then he waded to the bank, scrambled to his feet, and drew out his moustachios to their curving ends.  Renee nodded sharply to Beauchamp to bid him row.  He, with less of wisdom, having seized the floating scull abandoned by Count Henri, and got it ready for the stroke, said a word of condolence to the dripping man.

Count Henri’s shoulders and neck expressed a kind of negative that, like a wet dog’s shake of the head, ended in an involuntary whole length shudder, dog-like and deplorable to behold.  He must have been conscious of this miserable exhibition of himself; he turned to Beauchamp:  ’You are, I am informed, a sailor, monsieur.  I compliment you on your naval tactics:  our next meeting will be on land.  Au revoir, monsieur.  Madame la Marquise, I have the honour to salute you.’

With these words he retreated.

‘Row quickly, I beg of you,’ Renee said to Beauchamp.  Her desire was to see Roland, and open her heart to her brother; for now it had to be opened.  Not a minute must be lost to prevent further mischief.  And who was guilty? she.  Her heart clamoured of her guilt to waken a cry of innocence.  A disdainful pity for the superb young savage just made ludicrous, relieved him of blame, implacable though he was.  He was nothing; an accident—­a fool.  But he might become a terrible instrument of punishment.  The thought of that possibility