the lost road-第47章
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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 sm
