His very earnestness gave her to understand that he had forgotten her entirely. The finesse of the Tuileries could not have struck home more delicately, and more keenly. "I've often heard," she thought to herself, "that an awkward swordsman is dangerous." But she made no cry of "touchée!" Instead she caught at the point to turn the blade aside. "Responsibility? Truly sir, you _are_ considerate. But permit me--my safety on this trip, what concern can that have for Your Mercy?"
"None at all," replied Driscoll, heartily.
His brow, none the less, was crinkled, and he watched dubiously as Murguía helped the two girls into great armchair-like saddles. There was not a woman's saddle in Tampico, but Jeanne d'Aumerle did not mind that. She, the marchioness, enjoyed the oddity of a pommel in lieu of horn. And the lady's maid might have been on a dromedary, for all the consciousness the poor child had of it.
"Say," Driscoll interrupted with cool obstinacy, "where's our friend the captain and that sky-blue Frenchman?"
Murguía pretended not to heed him. Jacqueline really did not. But Berthe spoke up eagerly. She said that the two gentlemen were to meet them later in the day. At least she hoped so, but--no, no, there could be no doubt of it! Yet her words faltered, and there was an appeal in them. But if she placed any hope in the strange American, she was quickly disappointed.
"All right," he said, as if the matter were of no further consequence. "Then I can make a nice comfortable report to Maximilian."
"Report to Maximiliano?" exclaimed Murguía.
"But Señor Coronel, when you do, you--you will remember that I said nothing to--that is, to persuade the señoritas to take this journey."
"Yet you will say to His Majesty that I did suggest--yes, I do now--that they had better not----"
His utterance drivelled to incoherency. The Mexican woman, she of the café, stood before him. There was a warning on her stolid countenance. Murguía wet his lips. "But," he stammered, "there--oh what danger can there be in their going?"
Driscoll shoved him aside and placed himself at the head of Jacqueline's horse. "You had better risk the water, miss," he said quietly.
"My good sir," she replied, clear and cold, "I commend your prudence, in making certain, before you dared touch my bridle-rein, that neither of the two gentlemen were here."