Part 38 (1/2)

”Do you mean you can't, or won't?”

”I know nothing, Monsieur, except that I have been paid well, and told that I may go home as soon as I like, and by what route I like, having delivered the letter to Monsieur. My young master gave me enough to return with the donkeys to Mentone all the way from Chambery by rail if I chose; but I prefer to walk down, and keep the extra money for my _dot_. It will make me a good one.”

I am not sure that, before disentangling a huge bottle-fly from f.a.n.n.y's long lashes, she did not glance under her own at Joseph, when giving this information.

”Look here, Innocentina,” I said beguilingly, ”tell me which way, and how, your young Monsieur has gone, and I will double that _dot_ of yours.”

”Not if you would quadruple it, Monsieur. I promised my master to say nothing.”

”Couldn't you get absolution for breaking a promise?”

”No, Monsieur. I am not that kind of Catholic. It is only heretics who break their promises, and take money for it--like Judas Iscariot.”

Joseph did not charge at this red rag, but looked so utterly depressed that Innocentina's eyes relented.

”Very well,” I said. ”You deserve praise for your loyalty. I ought not to have tried to corrupt it. But, you know, I shall find out in the town, or at the railway station.”

Innocentina smiled. ”I do not think so, Monsieur.”

”We shall see,” I retorted. ”Joseph, where is the railway station?”

Joseph pointed, accompanying his gesture with directions. Then he offered to be my guide, but I refused his services and left him with Innocentina, having bidden him call at my room in the hotel for instructions later.

But the prophecy of Innocentina the Seeress was fulfilled. I could learn nothing of the Boy or his movements, at the _gare_ of Chambery.

Several trains had gone out, bound for several destinations in different directions, during the past three hours, and no one answering the description I gave of the Boy had been seen to leave.

Sadder, but no wiser, I returned to the Hotel de France, and asked if a youth of seventeen, ”with large blue eyes, chestnut hair which curled, a complexion tanned brown, a panama hat, and a suit of navy-blue serge knickerbockers,” had lunched there.

The answer was no. Such a yoking gentleman had not come to the hotel, nor had he been noticed in the town, either with or without a young woman and a couple of donkeys.

I had no more than finished my questionings and gone up to my room, when Joseph arrived--a wistful, expectant Joseph, with a deep light of excitement burning in his eyes.

”Any news?” I asked.

”No, Monsieur, except that in an hour Innocentina starts to walk on to Les Ech.e.l.les with her _anes_.”

”She is energetic.”

”The girl knows not what is the fatigue. Besides, each day less on the road means so many more francs added to the _dot_.”

”Innocentina seems very keen upon increasing that _dot_. Has she anyone in view to share it with her?”

”She has not confided that to me, Monsieur.”

”I suppose he would have to be a good Catholic?”

”Of that I am not so sure. I do not think she would object to a good Protestant, if he would allow the children to be brought up in her faith.”

”The lady is brave. She takes time by the forelock.”