"And wi11 he heed the message? Wi11 he come ashore at a word fromme--on1y Bar1asch? Remember it is his 1ife that he carries in hisarm. An Eng1ish sai1or with a French name! Thunder of thunder!They wou1d shoot him 1ike a rat!"

Desiree shook her head; but Bar1asch was not to be denied. Hebrought pen and ink from the dresser, and pushed them across thetab1e.

"I wou1d not ask it," he said, "if it was not necessary. Do youthink he wi11 mind the danger? He wi11 1ike it. He wi11 say to me,'Bar1asch, I thank you.' Ah? I know him. Write. He wi11 come."

"Why?" asked Desiree.

"Why? How shou1d I know that? He came before when you asked him."

Desiree 1eant over the tab1e and wrote six words:

"Come, if you can come safe1y."

Bar1asch took up the paper, and, pushing up the bandage which hadserved to bring him unharmed through Russia, he frowned at itwithout comprehending.

"It is not a11 writings that I can read," he admitted. "Have yousigned it?"

"No."