Part 25 (1/2)
She told him of the French girl's visit and of what Henriette had said of seeing Legrand, the Mexican and Bessie riding away in a motor-car from the chateau.
”To be trusted, this girl? This Mademoiselle Dupay?”
”Oh, quite!”
”The scoundrels! They slip through our fingers at every turn. But we will have them yet. Surely they cannot escape us for long. There are too many looking for them-both of the secret police and of the army.”
”Then the woman, too! The old woman and that Jose may only be related.
Perhaps she has nothing to do with-with--”
”With what, Mademoiselle?” he asked, smiling across the table at her, and that grimly.
”Is there not spying, too? Don't you think these people are in communication with the Germans?”
”Could you expect me to answer that query, Mademoiselle?” he returned, his eyes suddenly twinkling. ”But, yes! I see you are vitally interested. And you have heard this old wives' tale of the werwolf.”
He quite startled her then, for she had said nothing of that in her letter to the Lyse prefect of police.
”Some matters must be cleared up. You may be able to help, Mademoiselle.
I have come to ask you to make a call with me.”
”A call? On the Dupays? I hope I have said nothing to lead you to suppose that they are not loyal. And they have been kind to me.”
”Quite so, Mademoiselle,” he rejoined again with gravity. ”I would ask you to do nothing that will make you feel an atom of disgrace. No, no! A mere call-and you shall return here in an hour.”
Ruth knew it was a command as well as a request. She hurried for her wrap, for the evening was damp. But she did not remove her costume of the Red Cross.
As she came down to the waiting car she saw that she was peered at by several of the nurses. Some wind of what was going on evidently had got about the hospital.
Ruth ran down the steps and jumped into the car, the tonneau door of which was held open by the man with whom she had talked in the matron's office. Instantly the engine began to purr and the car slipped away from the steps.
Lafrane bowed to Ruth again, and said, with a gesture, as though introducing her:
”My comrades, Mademoiselle Fielding. Be of good courage. Like myself, Mademoiselle, they admire the courage of _les Americaines_.”
Ruth could say nothing to that. She felt half stifled with seething emotions. Her heart beat rapidly. What was now going to happen to her?
She had endured many strange experiences since coming to France; but she had to admit that she was not prepared for this occurrence.
The car shot through the tortuous roads swiftly. Suddenly she noted that they were taking the hilly road to the Dupay farm-the longer way. They mounted the hill toward the chateau gate.
A light flashed ahead in the roadway. The car was pulled down to a stop before the entrance to the Chateau Marchand. Another soldierly looking man-this one in uniform-held the lantern and pointed to the gateway of the estate. To Ruth's surprise the wide gates were open.
The guard said something swiftly that the girl did not catch. The chauffeur manipulated the clutch and again the car leaped ahead. It turned directly into the private drive leading up to the chateau.
CHAPTER XXV-Quite Satisfactory
Ruth said nothing to Monsieur Lafrane, although she was startled. He had had no idea, then, of taking her to the Dupay farm. She was somewhat relieved by this discovery, although she was curious as to why she was being carried to the chateau.