the lost road-第101章
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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 sudden terror。
But the tolerant smile of the adjutant reassured her。
〃The count； your husband；〃 he explained； 〃has learned of your
detention here by the enemy； and he has besieged the General
Staff to have you convoyed safely to Paris。〃 The adjutant glanced
at a field telegram he held open in his hand。 〃He asks；〃 he continued；
〃that you be permitted to return in the car of his friend； Captain
Thierry； and that on arriving you join him at the Grand Hotel。〃
Thierry exclaimed with delight。
〃But how charming！〃 he cried。 〃To…night you must both dine with
me at La Rue's。〃 He saluted his superior officer。 〃Some petrol；
sir；〃 he said。 〃And I am ready。〃 To Marie he added： 〃The car will
be at the steps in five minutes。〃 He turned and left them。
The thoughts of Marie； snatching at an excuse for delay； raced
madly。 The danger of meeting the Count d'Aurillac； her supposed
husband； did not alarm her。 The Grand Hotel has many exits； and；
even before they reached it； for leaving the car she could invent
an excuse that the gallant Thierry would not suspect。 But what
now concerned her was how； before she was whisked away to Paris；
she could convey to Anfossi the information she had gathered from
Thierry。 First； of a woman overcome with delight at being reunited
with her husband she gave an excellent imitation； then she exclaimed
in distress： 〃But my aunt； Madame Benet！〃 she cried。 〃I cannot leave
her！〃
〃The Sisters of St。 Francis；〃 said the adjutant； 〃arrive within an hour
to nurse the wounded。 They will care also for your aunt。〃
Marie concealed her chagrin。 〃Then I will at once prepare to go；〃
she said。
The adjutant handed her a slip of paper。 〃Your laissez…passer to
Paris；〃 he said。 〃You leave in five minutes； madame！〃
As temporary hostess of the chateau Marie was free to visit
any part of it； and as she passed her door a signal from Madame
Benet told her that Anfossi was on the fourth floor； that he was
at work； and that the coast was clear。 Softly； in the felt slippers
she always wore； as she explained； in order not to disturb the
wounded； she mounted the staircase。 In her hand she carried
the housekeeper's keys； and as an excuse it was her plan to return
with an armful of linen for the arriving Sisters。 But Marie never
reached the top of the stairs。 When her eyes rose to the level
of the fourth floor she came to a sudden halt。 At what she saw
terror gripped her； bound her hand and foot； and turned her blood
to ice。
At her post for an instant Madame Benet had slept； and an officer
of the staff； led by curiosity； chance； or suspicion； had； unobserved
and unannounced； mounted to the fourth floor。 When Marie saw
him he was in front of the room that held the wireless。 His back
was toward her； but she saw that he was holding the door to the
room ajar； that his eye was pressed to the opening； and that
through it he had pushed the muzzle of his automatic。 What
would be the fate of Anfossi Marie knew。 Nor did she for an
instant consider it。 Her thoughts were of her own safety； that
she might live。
Not that she might still serve the Wilhelmstrasse； the Kaiser； or
the Fatherland； but that she might live。 In a moment Anfossi
would be denounced； the chateau would ring with the alarm； and；
though she knew Anfossi would not betray her； by others she might
be accused。 To avert suspicion from herself she saw only one way
open。 She must be the first to denounce Anfossi。
Like a deer； she leaped down the marble stairs and； in a panic
she had no need to assume； burst into the presence of the staff。
〃Gentlemen！〃 she gasped； 〃my servantthe chauffeurBriand is a
spy！ There is a German wireless in the chateau。 He is using it！
I have seen him。〃 With exclamations； the officers rose to their
feet。 General Andre alone remained seated。 General Andre was
a veteran of many Colonial wars： Cochin…China； Algiers； Morocco。
The great war； when it came； found him on duty in the Intelligence
Department。 His aquiline nose； bristling white eyebrows； and
flashing； restless eyes gave him his nickname of l'Aigle。
In amazement； the flashing eyes were now turned upon Marie。 He
glared at her as though he thought she suddenly had flown mad。
〃A German wireless！〃 he protested。 〃It is impossible！〃
〃I was on the fourth floor；〃 panted Marie； 〃collecting linen for
the Sisters。 In the room next to the linen…closet I heard a strange
buzzing sound。 I opened the door softly。 I saw Briand with his
back to me seated by an instrument。 There were receivers clamped
to his ears！ My God！ The disgrace！ The disgrace to my husband and
to me； who vouched for him to you！〃 Apparently in an agony of
remorse； the fingers of the woman laced and interlaced。 〃I cannot
forgive myself！〃
The officers moved toward the door； but General Andre halted
them。 Still in a tone of incredulity； he demanded： 〃When did you
see this？〃
Marie knew the question was coming； knew she must explain how
she saw Briand； and yet did not see the staff officer who； with his
prisoner； might now at
