the lost road-第73章

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〃even　with　a　detour；　you　can　be　in　Paris　in　four　hours。　　I　think　it　is
worth　the　effort。〃

But　the　mere　thought　of　the　journey　threw　Madame　Benet　into
hysterics。　　She　asked　only　to　rest；　she　begged　for　an　opiate　to
make　her　sleep。　　She　begged　also　that　they　would　leave　the　door
open；　so　that　when　she　dreamed　she　was　still　in　the　hands　of　the
Germans；　and　woke　in　terror；　the　sound　of　the　dear　French　voices
and　the　sight　of　the　beloved　French　uniforms　might　reassure　her。
She　played　her　part　well。　　Concerning　her　Marie　felt　not　the　least
anxiety。　　But　toward　Briand；　the　chauffeur；　the　new　arrivals　were
less　easily　satisfied。

The　general　sent　his　adjutant　for　the　countess。　　When　the　adjutant
had　closed　the　door　General　Andre　began　abruptly：

〃The　chauffeur　Briand；〃　he　asked；　〃you　know　him；　you　can　vouch
for　him？〃

〃But；　certainly！〃　protested　Marie。　　〃He　is　an　Italian。〃

As　though　with　sudden　enlightenment；　Marie　laughed。　　It　was
as　if　now　in　the　suspicion　of　the　officer　she　saw　a　certain
reasonableness。　　〃Briand　was　so　long　in　the　Foreign　Legion
in　Algiers；〃　she　explained；　〃where　my　husband　found　him；
that　we　have　come　to　think　of　him　as　French。　As　much　French
as　ourselves；　I　assure　you。〃

The　general　and　his　adjutant　were　regarding　each　other
questioningly。

〃Perhaps　I　should　tell　the　countess；〃　began　the　general；　〃that　we
have　learned〃

The　signal　from　the　adjutant　was　so　slight；　so　swift；　that　Marie
barely　intercepted　it。

The　lips　of　the　general　shut　together　like　the　leaves　of　a　book。
To　show　the　interview　was　at　an　end；　he　reached　for　a　pen。

〃I　thank　you；〃　he　said。

〃Of　course；〃　prompted　the　adjutant；　〃Madame　d'Aurillac　understands
the　man　must　not　know　we　inquired　concerning　him。〃

General　Andre　frowned　at　Marie。

〃Certainly　not！〃　he　commanded。　　〃The　honest　fellow　must　not　know
that　even　for　a　moment　he　was　doubted。〃

Marie　raised　the　violet　eyes　reprovingly。

〃I　trust；〃　she　said　with　reproach；　〃I　too　well　understand　the
feelings　of　a　French　soldier　to　let　him　know　his　loyalty　is
questioned。〃

With　a　murmur　of　appreciation　the　officers　bowed　and　with　a
gesture　of　gracious　pardon　Marie　left　them。

Outside　in　the　hall；　with　none　but　orderlies　to　observe；　like　a　cloak
the　graciousness　fell　from　her。　　She　was　drawn　two　ways。　　In　her
work　Anfossi　was　valuable。　　But　Anfossi　suspected　was　less　than
of　no　value；　he　became　a　menace；　a　death…warrant。

General　Andre　had　said；　〃We　have　learned〃　and　the　adjutant
had　halted　him。　　What　had　he　learned？　To　know　that；　Marie
would　have　given　much。　　Still；　one　important　fact　comforted　her。
Anfossi　alone　was　suspected。　　Had　there　been　concerning　herself
the　slightest　doubt；　they　certainly　would　not　have　allowed　her　to
guess　her　companion　was　under　surveillance；　they　would　not　have
asked　one　who　was　herself　suspected　to　vouch　for　the　innocence　of
a　fellow　conspirator。　　Marie　found　the　course　to　follow　difficult。
With　Anfossi　under　suspicion　his　usefulness　was　for　the　moment
at　an　end；　and　to　accept　the　chance　offered　her　to　continue　on　to
Paris　seemed　most　wise。　　On　the　other　hand；　if；　concerning
Anfossi；　she　had　succeeded　in　allaying　their　doubts；　the　results
most　to　be　desired　could　be　attained　only　by　remaining　where　they
were。

Their　position　inside　the　lines　was　of　the　greatest　strategic
value。　　The　rooms　of　the　servants　were　under　the　roof；　and　that
Briand　should　sleep　in　one　of　them　was　natural。　　That　to　reach　or
leave　his　room　he　should　constantly　be　ascending　or　descending
the　stairs　also　was　natural。　　The　field…wireless　outfit；　or；　as　he
had　disdainfully　described　it；　the　〃knapsack〃　wireless；　was
situated　not　in　the　bedroom　he　had　selected　for　himself；　but　in
one　adjoining。　　At　other　times　this　was　occupied　by　the　maid　of
Madame　Iverney。　　To　summon　her　maid　Madame　Iverney；　from　her
apartment　on　the　second　floor；　had　but　to　press　a　button。　　And　it
was　in　the　apartment　of　Madame　Iverney；　and　on　the　bed　of　that
lady；　that　Madame　Benet　now　reclined。　　When　through　the　open
door　she　saw　an　officer　or　soldier　mount　the　stairs；　she　pressed
the　button　that　rang　a　bell　in　the　room　of　the　maid。　　In　this　way；
long　before　whoever　was　ascending　the　stairs　could　reach　the　top
floor；　warning　of　　his　approach　came　to　Anfossi。　　It　gave　him　time
to　replace　the　dustboard　over　the　fireplace　in　which　the　wireless
was　concealed　and　to　escape　into　his　own　bedroom。　　The　arrangement
was　ideal。　　And　already　information　picked　up　in　the　halls　below
by　Marie　had　been　conveyed　to　Anfossi　to　relay　in　a　French　cipher
to　the　German　General　Staff　at　Rheims。

Marie　made　an　alert　and　charming　hostess。　　To　all　who　saw　her
it　was　evident　that　her　mind　was　intent　only　upon　the　comfort　of
her　guests。　　Throughout　the　day　many　came　and　went；　but　each
she　made　welcome；　to　each　as　he　departed　she　called　〃bonne
chance。〃　　
Efficient；　tireless；　tactful；　she　was　everywhere：　in　the
dining…room；　in　the　kitchen；　in　the　bedrooms；　for　the　wounded
finding　mattresses　to　spread　in　the　gorgeous　salons　of　the
Champagne　prince；　for　the　soldier…chauffeurs　carrying　wine　into
the　courtyard；　where　the　automobiles　panted　and　growled；　and　the
arriving　and　departing　shrieked　for　right　of　way。　At　all　times　an
alluring　person；　now　the　one　woman　in　a　tumult　of　men；　her　smart
frock　covered　by　an　apron；　her　head　and　arms　bare；　undismayed
by　the　sight　of　the　wounded　or　by　the　distant　rumble　of　the　guns；
the　Countess　d'Aurillac　was　an　inspiring　and　beautiful　picture。
The　eyes　of　the　officers；　young　and　old；　informed　her　of　that
fact；　one　of　which　already　she　was　well　aware。　By　the　morning
of　the　next　day　she　was　accepted　as　the　owner　of　the　chateau。

And　though　continually　she　reminded　the　staff　she　was　present
only　as　the　friend　of　her　schoolmate；　Madame　Iverney；　they
deferred　to　her　as　to　a　hostess。　　Many　of　them　she　already
saluted　by　name；　and　to　those　who　with　messages　were
constantly　motoring　to　and　from　the　front　at　Soissons　she
was　particularly　kind。　　Overnight　the　legend　of　her　charm；
of　her　devotion　to　the　soldiers　of　all　ranks；　had　spread　from
Soissons　to　Meaux；　and　from　Meaux　to　Paris。　　It　was　noon　of
that　day　when　from　the　window　of　the　second　story　Marie　saw
an　armored　automobile　sweep　into　the　courtyard。　　It　was　driven
by　an　officer；　young　and　appallingly　good…looking；　and；　as　was
obvious　by　the　way　he　spun　his　car；　one　who　held　in　contempt
both　the　law　of　gravity　and　death。　　That　he　was　some　one　of
importance　seemed　evident。　　Before　he　could　alight　the　adjutant
had　raced　to　meet　him。　　With　her　eye　for　detail　Marie　observed
that　the　young　officer；　instead　of　imparting　information；　received
it。　　He　must；　she　guessed；　have　just　arrived　from　Paris；　and　his
brother　officer　either　was　telling　him　the　news　or　giving　him　his
orders。　　Whichever　it　might　be；　in　what　was　told　him　the　new
arrival　was　greatly　interested。　　One　instant　in　indignation　his
gauntleted　fist　beat　upon　the　steering…wheel；　the　next　he　smiled
with　pleasure。　　To　interpret　this　pantomime　was　difficult；　and；
the　better　to　inform　herself；　Marie　descended　the　stairs。

As　she　reached　the　lower　hall　the　two　officers　entered。　　To　the
spy　the　man　last　to　arrive　was　always　the　one　of　greatest
importance；　and　Marie　assured　herself　that　through　her　friend；
the　adjutant；　to　meet　with　this　one　would　prove　easy。

But　the　chauffeur…commander　of　the　armored　car　made　it　most
difficult。　　At　sight　of　Marie；　much　to　her　alarm；　as　though
greeting　a　dear　friend；　he　snatched　his　kepi　from　his　head　and
sprang　toward　her。

〃The　major；〃　he　cried；　〃told　me　you　were　here；　that　you　are　Madame
d'Aurillac。〃　　His　eyes　spoke　his　admiration。　　In　delight　he　beamed
upon　her。　　〃I　might　have　known　it！〃　he　murmured。　　With　the
confidence　of　one　who　is　sure　he　brings　good　news；　he　laughed
happily。　　〃And　I；〃　he　cried；　〃am　'Pierrot'！〃

Who　the　devil　〃Pierrot〃　might　be　the　spy　could　not　guess。　　She
knew　only　that　she　wished　by　a　German　shell　〃Pierrot〃　and　his
car　had　been　blown　to　tiny　fragments。　　Was　it　a　trap；　she　asked
herself；　or　was　the　handsome　youth　really　some　one　the　Countess
d'Aurillac　should　know。　　But；　as　from　his　introducing　himself　it
was　evident　he　could　not　know　that　lady　very　well；　Marie　took
courage　and　smiled。

〃Which　'Pierrot'？〃　she　parried。

〃Pierre　Thierry！〃　cried　the　youth。

To　the　relief　of　Marie　he　turned　upon　the　adjutant　and　to　him
explained　who　Pierre　Thierry　might　be。

〃Paul　d'Aurillac；〃　he　said；　〃is　my　dearest　friend。　　When　he　married
this　charming　lady　I　was　stationed　in　Algiers；　and　but　for　the　war
I　might　never　have　met　her。〃

To　Marie；　with　his　hand　on　his　heart　in　a　most　charming　manner；
he　bowed。　　His　admiration　he　made　no　effort　to　conceal。

〃And　so；〃　he　said；　〃I　know　why　there　is　war！〃

The　adjutant　smiled　indulgently；　and　departed　on　his　duties；　leaving
them　alone。　　The　handsome　eyes　of　Captain　Thierry　were　raised　to
the　violet　eyes　of　Marie。　　They　appraised　her　boldly　and　as　boldly
expressed　their　approval。

In　burlesque　the　young　man　exclaimed　indignantly：　〃Paul　deceived
me！〃　he　cried。　　〃He　told　me　he　had　married　the　most　beautiful　woman
in　Laon。　　He　has　married　the　most　beautiful　woman　in　France！〃

To　Marie　this　was　not　impertinence；　but　gallantry。

This　was　a　language　she　understood；　and　this　was　the　type　of　man；
because　he　was　the　least　difficult　to　manage；　she　held　most　in
contempt。

〃But　about　you　Paul　did　not　deceive　me；〃　she　retorted。　　In
apparent　confusion　her　eyes　refused　to　meet　his。　　〃He　told　me
'Pierrot'　was　a　most　dangerous　man！〃

She　continued　hurriedly。　　With　wifely　solicitude　she　asked
concerning　Paul。　　She　explained　that　for　a　week　she　had　been
a　prisoner　in　the　chateau；　and；　since　the　mobilization；　of　her
husband　save　that　he　was　with　his　regiment　in　Paris　she　had　heard
nothing。　　Captain　Thierry　was　able　to　give　her　later　news。　　Only
the　day　previous；　on　the　boulevards；　he　had　met　Count　d'Aurillac。
He　was　at　the　Grand　Hotel；　and　as　Thierry　was　at　once　motoring
back　to　Paris　he　would　give　Paul　news　of　their　meeting。　　He　hoped
he　might　tell　him　that　soon　his　wife　also　would　be　in　Paris。　　Marie
explained　that　only　the　illness　of　her　aunt　prevented　her　from　that
same　day　joining　her　husband。　　Her　manner　became　serious。

〃And　what　other　news　have　you？〃　she　asked。　　〃Here　on　the
firing…line　we　know　less　of　what　is　going　forward　than　you　in
Paris。〃

So　Pierre　Thierry　told　her　all　he　knew。　　They　were　preparing
despatches　he　was　at　once　to　carry　back　to　the　General　Staff；
and；　for　the　moment；　his　time　was　his　own。　　How　could　he
better　employ　it　than　in　talking　of　the　war　with　a　patriotic
and　charming　French　woman？

In　consequence　Marie　acquired　a　mass　of　facts；　gossip；　and
guesses。　　From　these　she　mentally　selected　such　information　as；
to　her　employers　across　the　Aisne；　would　be　of　vital　interest。

And　to　rid　herself　of　Thierry　and　on　the　fourth　floor　seek
Anfossi　was　now　her　only　wish。　　But；　in　attempting　this；　by
the　return　of　the　adjutant　she　was　delayed。　　To　Thierry　the
adjutant　gave　a　sealed　envelope。

〃Thirty…one；　Boulevard　des　Invalides；〃　he　said。　　With　a　smile　he
turned　to　Marie。　　〃And　you　will　accompany　him！〃

〃I！〃　exclaimed　Marie。　　She　was　sick　with　su