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Bervie had vainly tried to convey； under the disadvantage of having Charlotte's influence against him。 Throughout the journey； Percy did exactly what Bervie had once entreated him to dohe kept Mr。 Bowmore at a distance。
At every stage； they inquired after the fugitives。 At every stage； they were answered by a more or less intelligible description of Bervie and Charlotte； and of the lady who accompanied them。 No disguise had been attempted； no person had in any case been bribed to conceal the truth。
When the first tumult of his emotions had in some degree subsided； this strange circumstance associated itself in Percy's mind with the equally unaccountable conduct of Justice Bervie； on his arrival at the manor house。
The old gentleman met his visitor in the hall； without expressing； and apparently without feeling； any indignation at his son's conduct。 It was even useless to appeal to him for information。 He only said； 〃I am not in Arthur's confidence； he is of age； and my daughter （who has volunteered to accompany him） is of age。 I have no claim to control them。 I believe they have taken Miss Bowmore to Paris； and that is all I know about it。〃
He had shown the same dense insensibility in giving his official voucher for the passports。 Percy had only to satisfy him on the question of politics； and the document was drawn out as a matter of course。 Such had been the father's behavior； and the conduct of the son now exhibited the same shameless composure。 To what conclusion did this discovery point？ Percy abandoned the attempt to answer that question in despair。
They reached Dover toward two o'clock in the morning。
At the pier…head they found a coast…guardsman on duty； and received more information。
In 1817 the communication with France was still by sailing…vessels。 Arriving long after the departure of the regular packet； Bervie had hired a lugger； and had sailed with the two ladies for Calais； having a fresh breeze in his favor。 Percy's first angry impulse was to follow him instantly。 The next moment he remembered the insurmountable obstacle of the passports。 The Consul would certainly not grant those essentially necessary documents at two in the morning！
The only alternative was to wait for the regular packet； which sailed some hours laterbetween eight and nine o'clock in the forenoon。 In this case； they might apply for their passports before the regular office hours； if they explained the circumstances； backed by the authority of the magistrate's letter。
Mr。 Bowmore followed Percy to the nearest inn that was open； sublimely indifferent to the delays and difficulties of the journey。 He ordered refreshments with the air of a man who was performing a melancholy duty to himself； in the name of humanity。
〃When I think of my speech；〃 he said； at supper； 〃my heart bleeds for the people。 In a few hours more； they will assemble in their thousands； eager to hear me。 And what will they see？ Joskin in my place！ Joskin with a manuscript in his hand！ Joskin； who drops his voice at the ends of his sentences！ I will never forgive Charlotte。 Waiter； another glass of brandy and water。 〃
After an unusually quick passage across the Channel； the travelers landed on the French coast； before the defeated spy had returned from London to Dartford by stage…coach。 Continuing their journey by post as far as Amiens； they reached that city in time to take their places by the diligence to Paris。
Arrived in Paris； they encountered another incomprehensible proceeding on the part of Captain Bervie。
Among the persons assembled in the yard to see the arrival of the diligence was a man with a morsel of paper in his hand； evidently on the lookout for some person whom he expected to discover among the travelers。 After consulting his bit of paper； he looked with steady attention at Percy and Mr。 Bowmore； and suddenly approached them。 〃If you wish to see the Captain；〃 he said； in broken English； 〃you will find him at that hotel。〃 He handed a printed card to Percy； and disappeared among the crowd before it was possible to question him。
Even Mr。 Bowmore gave way to human weakness； and condescended to feel astonished in the face of such an event as this。 〃What next？〃 he exclaimed。
〃Wait till we get to the hotel；〃 said Percy。
In half an hour more the landlord had received them； and the waiter had led them to the right door。 Percy pushed the man aside； and burst into the room。
Captain Bervie was alone； reading a newspaper。 Before the first furious words had escaped Percy's lips； Bervie silenced him by pointing to a closed door on the right of the fireplace。
〃She is in that room；〃 he said； 〃speak quietly； or you may frighten her。 I know what you are going to say；〃 he added； as Percy stepped nearer to him。 〃Will you hear me in my own defense； and then decide whether I am the greatest scoundrel living； or the best friend you ever had？〃
He put the question kindly； with something that was at once grave and tender in his look and manner。 The extraordinary composure with which he acted and spoke had its tranquilizing influence over Percy。 He felt himself surprised into giving Bervie a hearing。
〃I will tell you first what I have done；〃 the Captain proceeded； 〃and next why I did it。 I have taken it on myself； Mr。 Linwood； to make an alteration in your wedding arrangements。 Instead of being married at Dartford church； you will be married （if you see no objection） at the chapel of the embassy in Paris； by my old college friend the chaplain。〃
This was too much for Percy's self…control。 〃Your audacity is beyond belief；〃 he broke out。
〃And beyond endurance；〃 Mr。 Bowmore added。 〃Understand this； sir！ Whatever your defense may be； I ob ject； under any circumstances； to be made the victim of a trick。〃
〃You are the victim of your own obstinate refusal to profit by a plain warning；〃 Bervie rejoined。 〃At the eleventh hour； I entreated you； and I entreated Mr。 Linwood； to provide for your own safety； and I spoke in vain。〃
Percy's patience gave way once more。
〃To use your own language；〃 he said； 〃I have still to decide whether you have behaved toward me like a scoundrel or a friend。 You have said nothing to justify yourself yet。〃
〃Very well put！〃 Mr。 Bowmore chimed in。 〃Come to the point； sir！ My daughter's reputation is in question。〃
〃Miss Bowmore's reputation is not in question for a single instant；〃 Bervie answered。 〃My sister has been the companion of her journey from first to last。〃
〃Journey？〃 Mr。 Bowmore repeated； indignantly。 〃I want to know； sir； what the journey means。 As an outraged father； I ask one plain question。 Why did you run away with my daughter？〃
Bervie took a slip of paper from his pocket； and handed it to Percy with a smile。
It was a copy of the warrant which Justice Bervie's duty had compelled him to issue for the 〃arrest of Orlando Bowmore and Percy Linwood。〃 There was no danger in divulging the secret now。 British warrants were waste…paper in France； in those days。
〃I ran away with the bride；〃 Bervie said coolly； 〃in the certain knowledge that you and Mr。 Bowmore would run after me。 If I had not forced you both to follow me out of England on the first of April； you would have been made