The voyage was without incident, and five days after leaving Nantes
they arrived at Plymouth. Here Hector hired a house, and when the
ladies were comfortably settled he left them in charge of Paolo
and two of the men, and rode to London accompanied by the others.
Here he called upon the banker whose address Mazarin had given
him, and on sending in his name was shown into the room in which
private business was transacted.

"You have certain moneys of mine in your hands, Mr. Wilson?"

"I have had fifty thousand crowns for the past three years and have
put them out on good security, so that the sum stands at present
in my books at sixty-four thousand crowns. Three days ago I received
from Cardinal Mazarin bills to the amount of one hundred and fifty
thousand crowns, being, he said, due to you for the surrender of
the fief of la Villar, and for other services rendered to him. The
cardinal is a good paymaster," he added with a slight smile at
seeing Hector's surprise at the news, "but it was plain from his
letter to me that he considered that the value of your services
was greatly in excess of the sum, large as it is, that he sent,
especially as they had brought great misfortunes upon you, and had
forced you to abandon France, and give up your profession, in
which, he said, your prospects of gaining the highest rank were
of the brightest. Now, sir, if there are any services that I can
render you I am at your disposal. You will naturally wish to invest
your money in some way, and, though I say it myself, I know of no
one who could lay it out to better advantage."

"You may help me assuredly," Hector said, "for I am an entire
stranger in England. I wish to purchase an estate, but have no