Part 45 (1/2)
”My dear Corporal! How are you?”
Fandor-Vinson turned sharply and faced--a priest!... He recognised the abbe. It was he of the Verdun motor-car.
”Very well! And you, Monsieur l'Abbe?... Your friend? Is he with you?”
”He is not, my dear Corporal!”
”Is he at Verdun?”
The abbe's reply was a look of displeasure.
”I do not know where he is,” he said sharply, after a pause.... ”But that is neither here nor there, Corporal,” he went on in a more amiable tone. ”We are going to take a little journey together.”
This news perturbed Fandor-Vinson: it was not to his liking.
The abbe took him by the arm.
”You will excuse my absence this morning? To keep the appointment was impossible.... Ah! Hand me the promised doc.u.ment, will you?... That is it?... Very good.... Thank you!... By the by, Corporal--there you see our special train.” The priest pointed to a superb motor-car drawn up alongside the pavement. A superior-looking chauffeur was seated at the wheel.
”Shall we get in? We have a fairly long way to go, and it is important that we arrive punctually.”
Fandor could do nothing but agree. They seated themselves. The abbe shared a heavy travelling rug.
”We will wrap ourselves up well,” said he. ”It is far from warm, and there is no need to catch cold--it is not part of our programme!...
You can start now, chauffeur! We are ready.”
Once in motion, the abbe pointed to a voluminous package which prevented Fandor from stretching his legs.
”We can change places from time to time, for you cannot be comfortable with this package enc.u.mbering the floor of the car like this.”
”Oh,” replied Fandor-Vinson, ”one takes things as they come!... But we should be much more comfortable if we fastened this rather clumsy piece of baggage to the front seat, beside the chauffeur, who can keep an eye on it!”
”Corporal! You cannot be thinking of what you are saying!” The priest's reply was delivered in a dry authoritative voice.
”I have put my foot in it,” thought Fandor. ”I should just like to know how!” He was about to speak: the abbe cut in:
”I am very tired, Corporal, so excuse me if I doze a little! In an hour or so, I shall be quite refreshed. There will be ample time for a talk after that.”
Fandor could but agree.
The car was speeding up the Avenue des Champs-Elysees. They were leaving Paris--for what destination?
”Does your chauffeur know the route, Monsieur l'Abbe?”
”I hope so--why?”
”Because I could direct him. I could find my way about any of these suburbs with my eyes shut.”
”Very well. See that he keeps on the right road. We are going towards Rouen.” With that the abbe wrapped himself in his share of the ample rug and closed his eyes.
Fandor sat still as a mouse, with all the food for thought he required.