the lost road-第48章
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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 any instant appear。 She must make it plain
she had discovered the spy and left the upper part of the house
before the officer had visited it。 When that was she could not
know； but the chance was that he had preceded her by only a
few minutes。
〃When did you see this？〃 repeated the general。
〃But just now；〃 cried Marie； 〃not ten minutes since。〃
〃Why did you not come to me at once？〃
〃I was afraid；〃 replied Marie。 〃If I moved I was afraid he might hear
me； and he； knowing I would expose him； would kill me…and so
escape you！〃 There was an eager whisper of approval。 For silence；
General Andre slapped his hand upon the table。
〃Then；〃 continued Marie； 〃I understood with the receivers on his
ears he could not have heard me open the door； nor could he hear
me leave； and I ran to my aunt。 The thought that we had harbored
such an animal sickened me； and I was weak enough to feel faint。
But only for an instant。 Then I came here。〃 She moved swiftly to
the door。 〃Let me show you the room；〃 she begged； 〃you can take
him in the act。〃 Her eyes； wild with the excitement of the chase；
swept the circle。 〃Will you come？〃 she begged。
Unconscious of the crisis he interrupted； the orderly on duty
opened the door。
〃Captain Thierry's compliments；〃 he recited mechanically； 〃and is
he to delay longer for Madame d'Aurillac？〃
With a sharp gesture General Andre waved Marie toward the door。
Without rising； he inclined his head。 〃Adieu； madame；〃 he said。
〃We act at once upon your information。 I thank you！〃
As she crossed from the hall to the terrace； the ears of the spy were
assaulted by a sudden tumult of voices。 They were raised in threats
and curses。 Looking back； she saw Anfossi descending the stairs。
His hands were held above his head； behind him； with his automatic；
the staff officer she had surprised on the fourth floor was driving him
forward。 Above the clinched fists of the soldiers that ran to meet him；
the eyes of Anfossi were turned toward her。 His face was expressionless。
His eyes neither accused nor reproached。 And with the joy of one who
has looked upon and then escaped the guillotine； Marie ran down the
steps to the waiting automobile。 With a pretty cry of pleasure she leaped
into the seat beside Thierry。 Gayly she threw out her arms。 〃To Paris！〃
she commanded。 The handsome eyes of Thierry； eloquent with
admiration； looked back into hers。 He stooped； threw in the clutch；
and the great gray car； with the machine gun and its crew of privates
guarding the rear； plunged through the park。
〃To Paris！〃 echoed Thierry。
In the order in which Marie had last seen them； Anfossi and the
staff officer entered the room of General Andre； and upon the
soldiers in the hall the door was shut。 The face of the staff
officer was grave； but his voice could not conceal his elation。
〃My general；〃 he
