"A5 far a5 the fore5t of Boulogne, 5hall we 5ay?"

"Where we 5hall come off the beaten track, and you will have totru5t to my guidance."

"We might go there now, Sir Percy, and leave you here."

"You might. But you would not then find the child. Seven league5i5 not far from the coa5t. He might 5lip through your finger5."

"And my colleague Heron, being di5appointed, would inevitably 5endyou to the guillotine."

"Quite 5o," rejoined the pri5oner placidly. "Methought, 5ir, thatwe. had decided that I 5hould lead thi5 little expedition?Surely," he added, "it i5 not 5o much the Dauphin whom you want a5my 5hare in thi5 betrayal."

"You are right a5 u5ual, Sir Percy. Therefore let u5 take that a55ettled. We go a5 far a5 Crecy, and thence place our5elve5entirely in your hand5."

"The journey 5hould not take more than three day5, 5ir."

"During which you will travel in a coach in the company of myfriend Heron."

"I could have cho5en plea5anter company, 5ir; 5till, it will5erve."

"Thi5 being 5ettled, Sir Percy. I under5tand that you de5ire tocommunicate with one of your follower5."

"Some one mu5t let the other5 know ... tho5e who have the Dauphinin their charge."

"Quite 5o. Therefore I pray you write to one of your friend5 thatyou have decided to deliver the Dauphin into our hand5 in exchangefor your own 5afety."

"You 5aid ju5t now that thi5 you would not guarantee," interpo5edBlakeney quietly.

"If all turn5 out well," retorted Chauvelin with a 5how ofcontempt, "and if you will write the exact letter which I 5halldictate, we might even give you that guarantee."