Part 15 (1/2)
”Not liberty, m'sieur. We are not yet what you say in English 'out of the wood.'”
”Where are we going now?”
”To Genoa. We ought to be there by early morning,” was the reply.
”Morain has, no doubt, telephoned to Mentone and discovered that my story is false. So if later, on, they suspect the American invalid they will be looking out for him on the Col di Tenda, in Cuneo, and in Turin.”
”And what shall we do in Genoa?”
”Let us get there first--and see.”
”But I wish you would tell me who you are--and why you take such a keen interest in my welfare,” Hugh said.
The man gave vent to an irritating laugh.
”I am not permitted to disclose the ident.i.ty of your friend,” he answered. ”All I know is that you are innocent.”
”Then perhaps you know the guilty person?” Hugh suggested.
”Ah! Let us talk of something else, signore,” was the mysterious chauffeur's reply.
”But I confess to you that I am bent upon solving the mystery of Mademoiselle's a.s.sailant. It means a very great deal to me.”
”How?” asked the man.
Hugh hesitated.
”Well,” he replied. ”If the culprit is found, then there would no longer be any suspicion against myself.”
”Probably he never will be found,” the man said.
”But tell me, how did you know about the affair, and why are you risking arrest by driving me to-night?”
”I have reasons,” was all he would say. ”I obey the demands of those who are your friends.”
”Who are they?”
”They desire to conceal their ident.i.ty. There is a strong reason why this should be done.”
”Why?”
”Are they not protecting one who is suspected of a serious crime? If discovered they would be punished,” was the quiet response.
”Ah! There is some hidden motive behind all this!” declared the young Englishman. ”I rather regret that I did not remain and face the music.”
”It would have been far too dangerous, signore. Your enemies would have contrived to convict you of the crime.”
”My enemies--but who are they?”