Part 2 (1/2)

put in Bertie. 'Yes, by jingo, that's it. Ginger can be a Spaniard.'

'Doing what?'

'Sel ing onions. In the same way those chappies from northern France used to come over to England with their little strings of onions, the lads from Spain surge along the Riviera sel ing the jol y old vegetable.

Or if he likes he can be a bul fighter looking for work -they stil have bul -fights in the South of France.'

'Not for me,' declared Ginger. 'I might be offered a job. I'l sel onions.'

'Where are you going to get the onions?' inquired Algy.

'Plenty on the aerodrome. You forget our lads have turned market gardeners.'

'Okay, then we'l cal that settled. But we seem to have overlooked the most important thing of al . How are we going to get back?'

'By Jove, that's a nasty one,' muttered Bertie. 'I'd clean forgotten about the return tickets.'

'There's only one way,' a.s.serted Ginger.

'a.s.suming that Ducoste wil take us over, he'l have to pick us up again. We should have to fix a place and time. Natural y, we should al have to keep that date, whatever happened. If we don't locate Biggles, or find out what happened to him, in that time, the chances are that we never should. If we finish before that time we should just have to lie doggo until the plane came for us. We could flash a light signal to plane came for us. We could flash a light signal to Ducoste to let him know that it was okay to land.'

'I can't think of anything better than that,' admitted Algy. 'Of course, if we made a mess of things we shouldn't be there, anyway, in which case Ducoste would push off again. We couldn't ask him to hang about. Anything else?'

'That seems to be about as far as we can get,'

opined Ginger. 'When we get back to the aerodrome, are you going to let the others in on this?'

'No,' decided Algy. 'The whole squadron would want to come. We can't have that-the show would begin to look like a commando raid, or an invasion.

Angus can take over while I'm away. Wel , let's get along and put the proposition to the Air Commodore.

We can fix the details later.'

'What details?' asked Ginger.

'We shal need French money, forged ident.i.ty papers, and so on. Raymond wil get those for us if he approves the scheme.'

'If he does, when are we going to start?'

'Obviously, just as soon as we are ready,'

answered Algy. 'The sooner we are on the spot the better. We ought to be away by to-morrow night at latest.' He got up. 'Let's get back to the Ministry. I'm anxious to get this thing settled.'

Half an hour later he was laying the proposition before Commodore Raymond, who listened patiently until he had finished.

'You fel ows are al old enough to know what you're doing,' said the Air Commodore quietly, at the conclusion. 'But for the fact that you have had experience in this sort of deadly work I wouldn't consider the project. However, your previous successful operations do ent.i.tle you to special consideration. I must say, though, that I shal be very much surprised if I see any of you again until the end of the war-if then. By discarding your uniforms you wil become spies, in which case, it is hardly necessary for me to tel you, it is no use appealing to me if you are caught*1. I'm sorry if that sounds discouraging, but we must face the facts. I'l make arrangements with your Group for you to go on leave, and supply you with such things as you think you wil require, as far as it is in my power. I'l get in touch with Ducoste right away and tel him to telephone you at the squadron. He volunteered for the last show, at the squadron. He volunteered for the last show, and I have no doubt he'l do so again. He can have the Breguet. It wil be less likely to attract attention over France than one of our machines, and at the same time save us from using-I nearly said losing -one of ours. If he's caught he'l be shot, so don't let him down. Anything else?'

'Just one thing, sir,' requested Ginger. 'What is the name of the Italian businessman you mentioned, the fel ow at whose vil a the princess hoped to stay-the skunk who let her down?'

'The man is a retired Milanese banker named Zabani-Gaspard Zabani. His place is the Vil a Valdora, in the Avenue Fleurie. Why did you ask that?'

'Since, apparently, he is wel in with the Italian secret police, he may know how his betrayal of the princess ended. He might be induced to speak.'

A ghost of a smile crossed the Air Commodore's face. 'I see. As far as I'm concerned you can do what you like with him. He must be an exceptional y nasty piece of work. But while we are on the subject of the Italian secret police, be careful of a fel ow named Gordino. He is in charge of things on the Riviera.

He's a short, dark, stoutish, middle-aged man- usual y wears a dark civilian suit. He's got an upturned black moustache and a scar on his chin.

He looks rather like a prosperous little grocer, but don't be deceived by that. He's a cunning devil.'

'What a bounder the blighter must be,' murmured Bertie in his wel -dressed voice.

'Matter of fact, he is,' agreed the Air Commodore, smiling. He stood up. 'And now, gentlemen, if that's al , I must ask you to be on your way. I've a pile of work in front of me. I'l get Henri Ducoste to ring you later.'

'Thank you, sir, for giving us so much of your time,'

said Algy. 'We are grateful to you for being frank and for giving us this chance. Biggles shal know about it -when we find him.'

'Bring Biggles back alive and I shal be amply repaid,' returned Air Commodore Raymond. 'Good luck to you.'

Stil discussing the plan the deputation returned to the aerodrome.

At nine o'clock that night an officer in the uniform of the Fighting French Air Force walked into the anteroom. Ginger saw him first, and guessed at once who he was, although they had been expecting a phone cal , not a personal appearance. Nudging Bertie, he went to meet the visitor.

'Henri Ducoste?' he queried.

Smiling, the French airman nodded a.s.sent. He was a slim, dark young man, with straight, rather long black hair, and a shy manner. Ginger had visualized -not that the Air Commodore had given any reason for it-an older man. He judged him to be not more than nineteen.

Having introduced himself and Bertie, Ginger took his arm, saying. 'Let's get out of the crowd.' They went to the station office where Algy was busy clearing up some squadron matters to leave everything s.h.i.+pshape for Angus to take over. Henri was introduced.

'I have spoken with your Air Commodore,' he said in fair English. 'Better than the telephone, I think I come here and talk.'

'Much better idea,' agreed Algy. 'Sit down.

Cigarette? Did the Air Commodore tel you just what we had in mind?'

'Yes, he tel s me al you know, I think.'

'You know we want you to fly us to Monaco?'

'But yes.'

'How do you feel about it?'

Henri shrugged his shoulders. 'How you say?

Okay wiz me. I go anywhere. What does it matter?'