MacIntosh was then, with Paolo, two troopers, and his own two
sergeants, to escort the baroness and her daughter to Nantes,
if she decided to go there. All arrangements were to be completed
within twelve hours of Paolo's arrival there. To the baroness he
related briefly what had passed.

"Therefore, as you see," he said, "there is no course open for me
but to fly for England or Ireland, where I intend to settle. I
trust, madam, that you and your daughter will accompany me. Putting
aside my respect and, I may say, my affection for yourself, you will
have understood from what I said to you when last at la Villar,
that I hope some day to make your daughter Norah my wife, if I should
be so fortunate as to obtain her affections. How this may be I
cannot say, but at any rate I trust that you will return to England,
and as I have ample funds you may be assured that my first care
will be to provide for your future."

On arriving at Nantes Hector at once rode to the governor, and
presented the cardinal's letter to him.

"You may be assured, Colonel Campbell, that I shall carry out his
eminence's instructions," he said, after perusing the cardinal's
letter. "I will send an officer down to the port with you to aid you
in obtaining passage, should there be a ship leaving for England,
or to take up a ship for your service."

"I would rather the latter," Hector said. "I may have ladies with
me, and so should wish to have plenty of accommodation."