'You don't need to worry, child,' he assured her. 'Russia isn't going to cave in yet awhile.'
'Not in any ordinary fashion,' she replied, 'but one lives in dread of some terrible disaster, and then---- These terms, they say, are to be left over for a month. Think of the temptation--all the fruits of victory offered in the very blackest moment of despair. Look!'
She pointed to the mouth of the river. The white-sailed boat was already commencing the passage of the estuary.
'Come,' she exclaimed, 'we must get back.'
They hurried across the marsh, finding their way with more difficulty now owing to the inward sweep of the tide, filling the narrow places with the soft swirl of salt-water. When they reached the raised path by the side of the estuary, the sailing boat was almost by their side. A man was seated in the stern, muffled up in an overcoat and wearing a tweed cap.
Lavendale glanced at the man in a puzzled fashion. Just at that moment the latter turned his head. He was dark, clean-shaven, and slightly built.
'Something rather familiar about him,' Lavendale muttered. 'You don't know his name?'
They reached the dock just as the boat was drawing up to the quay-side.
'Get out the car, please,' Suzanne directed, 'and drive slowly up the street, just past the guardroom. Wait there as though we had been stopped again.'
Lavendale obeyed. This time, as they drew up, Major Elwell leaned over the front of the car.
'He is here, I understand, Miss de Freyne,' he said softly. 'Are you going to stay? There may be a little trouble.'
'This is Mr. Lavendale,' she whispered. 'He will take care of me, Major Elwell.'
The latter looked keenly at Lavendale and nodded.
'It's a queer piece of business, this,' he observed. 'Maybe our information is all wrong, after all.'
The other car came gliding up the village street and was brought to a standstill only a foot behind them. The driver addressed the sergeant almost angrily.
'I showed you my license a few minutes ago,' he protested. 'What's that other car doing ahead, blocking up the way?'
Lavendale drew slightly on one side. A soldier, with fixed bayonet, slipped into the little space between the two cars. Major Elwell turned towards the passenger.
'Sorry to trouble you, sir,' he said, 'but I must ask you to step inside the guardroom for a moment.'