VI
After dinner that evening Merton and I settled ourselves in my littlesalon with coffee, cognac, and cigars. Merton said:
"Are we safe here?"
"Yes. There are two doors, and the outer one I have locked. My lastvalet was a spy. The information he got for their Foreign Office musthave been valuable. My present man--the fellow who waited on us justnow--is also a spy," and upon this I told the captain of myarrangement with Alphonse.
He was much amused. "Can you really trust him?" he said.
"Yes, he has an old mother whom I have seen and have helped. I believethat it is his desire and interest to serve me and at the same time tokeep his place as a paid spy."
"What a droll arrangement! And are you really sure of him?"
"Yes, as far as one can be sure of any one in this tangle of spies."
"But does he not--must he not--seem to earn his outside pay?"
"Yes, seem. I will call him in. He will talk if I assure him that heis safe."
"Delightful--most delightful! By all means!"
I rang for Alphonse.
"Alphonse," I said, "this gentleman is my friend. He cannot quitebelieve that you can be true to me and yet satisfy your superiors inthe police."
"Oh, monsieur!" exclaimed Alphonse. He was evidently hurt.
"To relieve him, tell monsieur of our little arrangement."
"The letters, monsieur?"
"Yes."
"Well, my master is kind enough to leave open certain letters. Theyhave been found to be of interest. My pay has been raised.Circumstances make it desirable."
"What is her name?" said Merton, laughing.
"Louise."
"What letters, Greville, do you turn over for the recreation andservice of the Foreign Office?"
"My uncle's," said I, "usually."
"Ah, I see. The old gentleman's opinions must berefreshing--authoritative they are, I am sure. When last I saw him hehad, as usual, secret intelligence from the army. He always has. Ithink with joy of the effect of his letters on the young secretariesof the Foreign Office."
I confessed my own pleasure in the game, and was about to let Alphonsego when Merton said:
"May I take a great liberty?"
"Certainly," I laughed--"short of taking Alphonse. What is it?"
"Alphonse," asked Merton, "would you know the lady you followed andguided that night in the Bois?"
"Yes, monsieur."
"Do you want to make two hundred francs?"
"Without doubt."
"Find that woman and I will give you three hundred."
"It will be difficult. Paris is large and women are numerous."
"Yes, but there is the Count le Moyne as a clue."
"Yes, yes." He seemed to be thinking. Then he turned to me.
"If monsieur approves and can do without me for two days?"
"Certainly." I was not very anxious to add the woman to our increasingcollection of not easily solved problems, but Merton was so eager thatI decided to make this new move in our complicated game.
Alphonse stood still a moment.
"Well?" I said.
"The lady, monsieur,--she is, I think, not French."
"No; she is an American, and that is all we know."
"But that is much. Then I am free to-morrow?"
"Yes," and he left us.
"What a fine specimen!" said the captain; "scamp rather thanscoundrel. Well, I suppose I shall hear from the count and Porthos andthe little man with the pink kid gloves--Aramis. I hate the littleanimal, but Porthos--I want you to see Porthos. He has giganticmanners. He is so conscious of his bigness, and makes chests at youlike a pouter pigeon. He has a bass voice like a war-drum. Thingsshake. Oh, I like Porthos. Pardon my nonsense, Greville, but the wholething is so big, so grotesquely huge. Tell me about Athos, the count.Your cigars were not bought in France; may I have another? Thanks. Youwere to see him to-day."
"Yes; I called on him, and I assure you," I replied, "that nothing youhave told me is more wonderful than my sequel. I did think you had theoriginal _trois mousquetaires_ rather too much on your mind, butreally, the resemblance is certainly fascinating."
"But what about the count? You have seen him, I suppose."
"Yes, I saw Count le Moyne. He lives in a charming little hotel nearthe Parc Monceaux. He had my card in his hand when I entered. Hewelcomed me quite warmly, and said, 'It is odd, as you are of yourlegation, that we have never met; but then I am only of latetransferred from Vienna. Pray sit down.'
"I was sure that for a fraction of a moment he did not identify me,but as I spoke, my voice, as so often happens, revealed more than thedarkness had made visible. I observed at once that, although stillextremely courteous, he became more cool and looked puzzled.
"I said: 'Monsieur, last night, in the darkness, I gave you by mistakethe card of my friend Captain Merton in place of my own. I have calledin person solely to apologize for my blunder.' As I spoke I stood up,adding, 'As this is my only purpose, I shall leave you to rearrangematters as may seem best to you.'