'If my father had been at home he would no doubt have come to see you himself.
As he is not, I have come instead.'
His brows wrinkled slightly, but he bowed a little.
'That is an added pleasure,' he said perfunctorily.
'May we, perhaps, go to your office?'
'But certainly.'
He turned and led them to the house.
There was a littered, dusty office, full of sad-looking account-books and files, with bits of broken harness thrown aside in corners.
He closed the door behind them and gave them rickety chairs; there being no other seats, he leaned backwards against the edge of the desk.
'First,' said the girl, 'I wish to introduce you to Monsieur Howard.
He is an Englishman.'
The horse-breeder raised his eyebrows a little, but bowed ceremonious.
'Enchante,' he said.
Nicole said: 'I will come directly to the point, Monsieur Arvers.
Monsieur Howard is a very old friend of my family.
He is travelling with several children, and he is trying to return to England in spite of the Germans.
My mother and I have talked about this, in the absence of my father, and it seemed to us that Jean Henri could help perhaps with one of his boats.
Or, if that was impossible, Jean Henri might know some friend who would help.
There is money enough to pay for any services.'
The man said nothing for a time.
At last: The Germans are not to be trifled with,' he said.
Howard said: 'We appreciate that, monsieur.
We do not wish that anyone should run into trouble on our behalf.
That is why mademoiselle has come to talk to you before going to your son-in-law.'
The other turned to him.
'You speak French better than most Englishmen.'
'I have had longer than most Englishmen to learn it.'
The Frenchman smiled.
'You are very anxious to return to England?'
The old man said: 'For myself, not so very anxious.
I should be quite happy to live in France for a time.
But I have children in my care you understand, English children that I have promised that I would escort to England.'
He hesitated.
'And, as a matter of fact, there are three others now.'
'What are those other children?
How many of you are there altogether?
And where have you come from?'
It took nearly twenty minutes fo elucidate the story.
At last the Frenchman said:
'These other children, the little one called Pierre and the little Dutchman. What is going to become of them when they reach England?'
Howard said: 'I have a daughter, married, in America.
She is in easy circumstances.
She would make a home for those two in her house at Long Island till the war is over and we can trace their relations.
They would be very happy there.'
The man stared at him keenly.
'In America?
That I can well believe.
You will send them over the Atlantic to your daughter?
Will she be good to them - children that she has never seen?
Unknown, foreign children?'