They drove through the village. There was an inn a little way beyond it, on the right. Don Luis made his chauffeur stop here:
"If we are not back by twelve to-night," he said, "go home to Paris. Will you come with me, captain?"
Patrice followed him towards the right, whence a small road led them to the river-bank. They followed this for a quarter of an hour. At last Don Luis found what he appeared to be seeking, a boat fastened to a stake, not far from a villa with closed shutters. Don Luis unhooked the chain.
It was about seven o'clock in the evening. Night was falling fast, but a brilliant moonlight lit the landscape.
"First of all," said Don Luis, "a word of explanation. We're going to wait for the barge. She'll come in sight on the stroke of ten and find us lying across stream. I s
