Part 5 (2/2)

'Where have you come from, milord?' asked Francois.

'I have come,' replied Bertie, 'from England.'

Francois gasped. ' Nom de Dieu! Nom de Dieu! But how?' But how?'

'By aeroplane.'

'But why?'

'I am looking for a friend. But if the Italians catch me they wil shoot me for a spy.'

'A friend!' Francois' eyes narrowed. ' Tiens! Tiens! ' he breathed. 'Then you are perhaps a friend of the Englishman who al the police are looking for?' ' he breathed. 'Then you are perhaps a friend of the Englishman who al the police are looking for?'

Bertie's face flushed with excitement. 'Then he is stil alive?'

Madame shrugged. 'Who knows? Al we know is, an Englishman was here. He came, it is said, to fetch a girl who was locked up at the shrugged. 'Who knows? Al we know is, an Englishman was here. He came, it is said, to fetch a girl who was locked up at the poste de poste de police police*4, on the Rock. There was shooting here, and o n La Grande Corniche. La Grande Corniche. That is al we know. After that we are told not to mention the affair, but so many police came we think he got away. n.o.body knows anything for certain. Where do you stay while you are in Monaco, milord?' That is al we know. After that we are told not to mention the affair, but so many police came we think he got away. n.o.body knows anything for certain. Where do you stay while you are in Monaco, milord?'

'Nowhere in particular.'

'Then you wil stay with us,' invited Francois.

Bertie smiled. 'No, my friends, thank you al the same. This is no affair of yours. Al I ask is, forget that you saw me here, or you may find yourselves in serious trouble.'

'But you must eat, milord,' muttered madame madame, with a worried frown.

a worried frown.

'I shal manage.'

'Have some of my soup now? It is good.'

'That is an invitation I wil not refuse,' declared Bertie.

Madame bustled about laying the meal. bustled about laying the meal.

'What I do not understand is, how do you expect to find your friend?' said Francois. 'Where wil you look for him? In the casino? In the museum? Wil he walk along the Boulevard des Moulins, or sit on the terraces? But no! This is not possible with the place so ful of police.'

'First, I am going to look for some writing on a wal .'

'On what wal , milord?'

'The wal behind the Quai de Plaisance.'

Francois slapped his thigh and clicked his tongue.

' Zut alors! Zut alors! Now, here is a thing the most curious,' he exclaimed. 'One day I saw a girl writing on that very wal . She wore a blue shawl, I remember.' Now, here is a thing the most curious,' he exclaimed. 'One day I saw a girl writing on that very wal . She wore a blue shawl, I remember.'

Bertie stared. 'What day was this?'

Francois twisted his face in an effort to think. ' Oh Oh la la. la la. I forget. It was many days ago-seven-eight I forget. It was many days ago-seven-eight -perhaps ten-I do not know. Al days are the same here.'

'What did she write?'

'Fool that I am, I did not look. When I saw her writing I was working in the boat. I think when I go home I wil look what she writes, but the sun is hot and I forget.'

Bertie looked from one to the other. 'I know nothing of such a girl,' he said. 'If she was writing, then it is no concern of mine. Just where did it happen?'

'This side of the Escalier du Port. There was a young man standing there this morning, a sel er of onions, on the very spot. Perhaps you noticed him?'

'Er-yes-er-a man sel ing onions.'

'Is there anything remarkable in that?'

Bertie hesitated, but only for a moment. 'He, too, is my friend. He is helping me find the one who is lost.'

Francois started for the door. 'I go to see if there is writing on the wal .'

'No,' protested Bertie. 'I'l go.'

'It is better that I should go. Everyone knows me.

You eat your soup, milord. Au revoir. Au revoir. ' '

Bertie turned to madame. madame. 'It is nearly time for the children to come home?' 'It is nearly time for the children to come home?'

Madame nodded. 'I wil go to the convent and tel them that to-day they must eat with their aunt who lives in the Avenue Bel vue. They shal remain until I fetch them, this evening. It is better so.' nodded. 'I wil go to the convent and tel them that to-day they must eat with their aunt who lives in the Avenue Bel vue. They shal remain until I fetch them, this evening. It is better so.'

' Merci madame. Merci madame. It is good of you to go to so much trouble.' It is good of you to go to so much trouble.'

'Do not speak of it, milord.' Madame hurried off on her errand.

About ten minutes later Francois returned. His face was flushed with excitement. 'There is writing, in the colour blue,' he said in a tense voice.

'What does it say?'

'It just says, Chez Rossi. Pernod. There is also a little mark.'

'A triangle.'

'Exactement! *5' *5'

Bertie looked puzzled. 'Chez Rossi? What is this place-a restaurant?'

'Yes. It is at the back of the town, next to the Escalier des Revoires. But it is not a good place, I've heard tel .'

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