the clamour, Renee saw her father beckoning from the riva.  She signified that she was no longer in command of circumstances; the vessel was off.  But the count stamped his foot, and nodded imperatively.  Thereupon Roland repeated the eloquent demonstrations of Renee, and the count lost patience, and Roland shouted, ’For the love of heaven, don’t join this babel; we’re nearly bursting.’  The rage of the babel was allayed by degrees, though not appeased, for the boat was behaving wantonly, as the police officer pointed out to the count.

Renee stood up to bend her head.  It was in reply to a salute from the Marquis de Rouaillout, and Nevil beheld his rival.

’M. le Marquis, seeing it is out of the question that we can come to you, will you come to us?’ cried Roland.

The marquis gesticulated ‘With alacrity’ in every limb.

’We will bring you back on to-morrow midnight’s tide, safe, we promise you.’

The marquis advanced a foot, and withdrew it.  Could he have heard correctly?  They were to be out a whole night at sea!  The count dejectedly confessed his incapability to restrain them:  the young desperadoes were ready for anything.  He had tried the voice of authority, and was laughed at.  As to Renee, an English lady was with her.

‘The English lady must be as mad as the rest,’ said the marquis.

‘The English are mad,’ said the count; ’but their women are strict upon the proprieties.’

’Possibly, my dear count; but what room is there for the proprieties on board a fishing-boat?’

‘It is even as you say, my dear marquis.’

‘You allow it?’

’Can I help myself?  Look at them.  They tell me they have given the boat the fittings of a yacht.’

‘And the young man?’

’That is the M. Beauchamp of whom I have spoken to you, the very pick of his country, fresh, lively, original; and he can converse.  You will like him.’

‘I hope so,’ said the marquis, and roused a doleful laugh.  ’It would seem that one does not arrive by hastening!’

’Oh! but my dear marquis, you have paid the compliment; you are like Spring thrusting in a bunch of lilac while the winds of winter blow.  If you were not expected, your expeditiousness is appreciated, be sure.’

Roland fortunately did not hear the marquis compared to Spring.  He was saying:  ‘I wonder what those two elderly gentlemen are talking about’; and Nevil confused his senses by trying to realize that one of them was destined to be the husband of his now speechless Renee.  The marquis was clad in a white silken suit, and a dash of red round the neck set off his black beard; but when he lifted his broad straw hat, a baldness of sconce shone.  There was elegance in his gestures; he looked a gentleman, though an ultra-Gallican one, that is, too scrupulously finished for our taste, smelling of the valet.  He had the habit of balancing his body on the hips,