XV + 

Sheer Impudence + 

Though it had been nearly eight when they entered the restaurant, it was something after eleven before Lanyard called for his bill. + 

тАЬWeтАЩve plenty of time,тАЭ he had explained; тАЬitтАЩll be midnight before we can move. The gentle art of housebreaking has its technique, you know, its professional ethics: we canтАЩt well violate the privacy of Madame OmberтАЩs strongbox before the caretakers on the premises are sound asleep. It isnтАЩt done, you know, it isnтАЩt class, to go burglarizing when decent, law-abiding folk are wide-awake.тБатАКтБатАж Meantime weтАЩre better off here than trapezing the streets.тБатАКтБатАжтАЭ + 

ItтАЩs a silent web of side ways and a gloomy one by night that backs up north of Les Halles: old Paris, taciturn and sombre, steeped in its memories of grim romance. But for infrequent, flickering, corner lamps, the street that welcomed them from the doors of the warm and cosy restaurant was as dismal as an alley in some city of the dead. Its houses with their mansard roofs and boarded windows bent their heads together like mutes at a wake, black-cloaked and hooded; seldom one showed a light; never one betrayed by any sound the life that lurked behind its jealous blinds. + 

Now again the rain had ceased and, though the sky remained overcast, the atmosphere was clear and brisk with a touch of frost, in grateful contrast to the dull and muggy airs that had obtained for the last twenty-four hours. + 

тАЬWeтАЩll walk,тАЭ Lanyard suggestedтБатАФтАЬif you donтАЩt mindтБатАФpart of the way at least; itтАЩll eat up time, and a bit of exercise will do us both good.тАЭ + 

The girl assented quietly.тБатАКтБатАж + 

The drum of their heels on fast-drying sidewalks struck sharp echoes from the silence of that drowsy quarter, a lonely clamour that rendered it impossible to ignore their apparent solitudeтБатАФas impossible as it was for Lanyard to ignore the fact that they were followed. + 

The shadow dogging them on the far side of the street, some fifty yards behind, was as noiseless as any cat; but for this circumstanceтБатАФhad it moved boldly with unmuffled footstepsтБатАФLanyard would have been slow to believe it concerned with him, so confident had be felt, till that moment, of having given the Pack the slip. + 

And from this he diagnosed still another symptom of the PackтАЩs incurable stupidity! + 

Supremely on the alert, he had discovered the pursuit before they left the block of the restaurant. Dissembling, partly to avoid alarming the girl, partly to trick the spy, he turned this way and that round several corners, until quite convinced that the shadow was dedicated to himself exclusively, then promptly revised his first purpose and, instead of sticking to darker back ways, struck out directly for the broad, well-lighted and lively boulevard de S├йbastopol. + 

Crossing this without a backward glance, he turned north, seeking some caf├й whose arrangements suited his designs; and, presently, though not before their tramp had brought them almost to the Grand Boulevards, found one to his taste, a cheerful and well-lighted establishment occupying a corner, with entrances from both streets. A hedge of forlorn fir-trees knee-deep in wooden tubs guarded its terrasse of round metal tables and spindle-shanked chairs; of which few were occupied. Inside, visible through the wide plate-glass windows, perhaps a dozen patrons sat round half as many tablesтБатАФno moreтБатАФidling over dominoes and gossip: steady-paced burghers with their wives, men in small ways of business of the neighbourhood. + 

Entering to this company, Lanyard selected a square marble-topped table against the back wall, entrenched himself with the girl upon the seat behind it, ordered coffee and writing materials, and proceeded to light a cigarette with the nonchalance of one to whom time is of no consequence. + 

тАЬWhat is it?тАЭ the girl asked guardedly as the waiter scurried off to execute his commands. тАЬYouтАЩve not stopped in here for nothing!тАЭ + 

тАЬTrueтБатАФbut lower, please!тАЭ he begged. тАЬIf we speak English loud enough to be heard it will attract attention.тБатАКтБатАж The trouble is, weтАЩre followed. But as yet our faithful shadow doesnтАЩt know we know itтБатАФunless heтАЩs more intelligent than he seems. Consequently, if I donтАЩt misjudge him, heтАЩll take a table outside, the better to keep an eye on us, as soon as he sees weтАЩre apparently settled for some time. More than that, IтАЩve got a note to writeтБатАФand not merely as a subterfuge. This fellow must be shaken off, and as long as we stick together, that canтАЩt well be done.тАЭ + 

He interrupted himself while the waiter served them, then added sugar to his coffee, arranged the ink bottle and paper to his satisfaction, and bent over his pen. + 

тАЬCome closer,тАЭ he requestedтБатАФтАЬas if you were interested in what IтАЩm writingтБатАФand amused; if you can laugh a bit at nothing, so much the better. But keep a sharp eye on the windows. You can do that more readily than I, more naturally from under the brim of your hat.тБатАКтБатАж And tell me what you see.тБатАКтБатАжтАЭ + 

He had no more than settled into the swing of composition, than the girlтБатАФapparently following his pen with closest attentionтБатАФgiggled coquettishly and nudged his elbow. + 

тАЬThe window to the right of the door we came in,тАЭ she said, smiling delightedly; тАЬheтАЩs standing behind the fir-trees, staring in.тАЭ + 

тАЬCan you make out who he is?тАЭ Lanyard asked without moving his lips. + 

тАЬNothing more than that heтАЩs tall,тАЭ she said with every indication of enjoying a tremendous joke. тАЬHis face is all in shadow.тБатАКтБатАжтАЭ + 

тАЬPatience!тАЭ counselled the adventurer. тАЬHeтАЩll take heart of courage when convinced of our innocence.тАЭ + 

He poised his pen, examined the ceiling for inspiration, and permitted a slow smile to lighten his countenance. + 

тАЬYouтАЩll take this note, if you please,тАЭ he said cheerfully, тАЬto the address on the envelope, by taxi: itтАЩs some distance, near the ├Йtoile.тБатАКтБатАж A long chance, but one we must risk; give me half an hour alone and IтАЩll guarantee to discourage this animal one way or another. You understand?тАЭ + 

тАЬPerfectly,тАЭ she laughed archly. + 

He bent and for a few moments wrote busily. + 

тАЬNow heтАЩs walking slowly round the corner, never taking his eyes from you,тАЭ the girl reported, shoulder to his shoulder and head distractingly near his head. + 

тАЬGood. Can you see him any better?тАЭ + 

тАЬNot yet.тБатАКтБатАжтАЭ + 

тАЬThis note,тАЭ he said, without stopping his pen or appearing to say anything тАЬis for the concierge of a building where I rent stabling for a little motorcar. IтАЩm supposed there to be a chauffeur in the employ of a crazy Englishman, who keeps me constantly travelling with him back and forth between Paris and London. ThatтАЩs to account for the irregularity with which I use the car. They know me, monsieur and madame of the conciergerie, as Pierre Lamier; and I think theyтАЩre safeтБатАФnot only trustworthy and of friendly disposition, but quite simple-minded; I donтАЩt believe they gossip much. So the chances are De┬аMorbihan and his gang know nothing of the arrangement. But thatтАЩs all speculationтБатАФa forlorn hope!тАЭ + 

тАЬI understand,тАЭ the girl observed. тАЬHeтАЩs still prowling up and down outside the hedge.тАЭ + 

тАЬWeтАЩre not going to need that car tonight; but the hotel of Madame Omber is close by; and IтАЩll follow and join you there within an hour at most. Meantime, this note will introduce you to the concierge and his wifeтБатАФI hope you wonтАЩt mindтБатАФas my fianc├йe. IтАЩm telling them we became engaged in England, and IтАЩve brought you to Paris to visit my mother in Montrouge; but am detained by my employerтАЩs business; and will they please give you shelter for an hour.тАЭ + 

тАЬHeтАЩs coming in,тАЭ the girl announced quietly. + 

тАЬIn here?тАЭ + 

тАЬNoтБатАФmerely inside the row of little trees.тАЭ + 

тАЬWhich entrance?тАЭ + 

тАЬThe boulevard side. HeтАЩs taken the corner table. Now a waiterтАЩs going out to him.тАЭ + 

тАЬYou can see his face now?тАЭ Lanyard asked, sealing the note. + 

тАЬNot well.тБатАКтБатАжтАЭ + 

тАЬNothing you recognize about him, eh?тАЭ + 

тАЬNothing.тБатАКтБатАжтАЭ + 

тАЬYou know Popinot and Wertheimer by sight?тАЭ + 

тАЬNo; theyтАЩre only names to me; De┬аMorbihan and Mr.┬аBannon mentioned them last night.тАЭ + 

тАЬIt wonтАЩt be Popinot,тАЭ Lanyard reflected, addressing the envelope; тАЬheтАЩs tubby.тАЭ + 

тАЬThis man is tall and slender.тАЭ + 

тАЬWertheimer, possibly. Does he suggest an Englishman, anyway?тАЭ + 

тАЬNot in the least. He wears a moustacheтБатАФblondтБатАФtwisted up like the KaiserтАЩs.тАЭ + 

Lanyard made no reply; but his heart sank, and he shivered imperceptibly with foreboding. He entertained no doubt but that the worst had happened, that to the number of his enemies in Paris was added Ekstrom. + 

One furtive glance confirmed this inference. He swore bitterly, if privately and with a countenance of childlike blandness, as he sipped the coffee and finished his cigarette. + 

тАЬWho is it, then?тАЭ she asked. тАЬDo you know him?тАЭ + 

He reckoned swiftly against distressing her, recalling his mention of the fact that Ekstrom was credited with the Huysman murder. + 

тАЬMerely a hanger-on of De┬аMorbihanтАЩs,тАЭ he told her lightly; тАЬa spineless animalтБатАФno trouble about scaring him off.тБатАКтБатАж Now take this note, please, and weтАЩll go. But as we reach the door, turn backтБатАФand go out the other. YouтАЩll find a taxi without trouble. And stop for nothing!тАЭ + 

He had shown foresight in paying when served, and was consequently able to leave abruptly, without giving Ekstrom time to shy. Rising smartly, he pushed the table aside. The girl was no less quick, and little less sensitive to the strain of the moment; but as she passed him her lashes lifted and her eyes were all his for the instant. + 

тАЬGood night,тАЭ she breathedтБатАФтАЬgood nightтБатАКтБатАж my dear!тАЭ + 

She could have guessed no more shrewdly what he needed to nerve him against the impending clash. He hadnтАЩt hesitated as to his only course, but till then heтАЩd been horribly afraid, knowing too well the desperate cast of the outlawed GermanтАЩs nature. But now he couldnтАЩt fail. + 

He strode briskly toward the door to the boulevard, out of the corner of his eye aware that Ekstrom, taken by surprise, half-started from his chair, then sank back. + 

Two paces from the entrance the girl checked, murmured in French, тАЬOh, my handkerchief!тАЭ and turned briskly back. + 

Without pause, as though he hadnтАЩt heard, Lanyard threw the door wide and swung out, turning directly to the spy. At the same time he dropped a hand into the pocket where nestled his automatic. + 

Fortunately Ekstrom had chosen a table in a corner well removed from any in use. Lanyard could speak without fear of being overheard. + 

But for a moment he refrained. Nor did Ekstrom speak or stir; sitting sideways at his table, negligently, with knees crossed, the German likewise kept a hand buried in the pocket of his heavy, dark ulster. Thus neither doubted the otherтАЩs ill-will or preparedness. And through thirty seconds of silence they remained at pause, each striving with all his might to read the otherтАЩs purpose in his eyes. But there was this distinction to be drawn between their attitudes, that whereas LanyardтАЩs gaze challenged, the GermanтАЩs was sullenly defiant. And presently Lanyard felt his heart stir with relief: the spyтАЩs glance had winced. + 

тАЬEkstrom,тАЭ the adventurer said quietly, тАЬif you fire, IтАЩll get you before I fall. ThatтАЩs a simple statement of fact.тАЭ + 

The German hesitated, moistened the corners of his lips with a nervous tongue, but contented himself with a nod of acknowledgement. + 

тАЬTake your hand off that gun,тАЭ Lanyard ordered. тАЬRememberтБатАФIтАЩve only to cry your name aloud to have you torn to pieces by these people. Your lifeтАЩs not worth a momentтАЩs purchase in ParisтБатАФas you should know.тАЭ + 

The German hesitated, but in his heart knew that Lanyard didnтАЩt exaggerate. The murder of the inventor had exasperated all France; and though tonightтАЩs weather kept a third of Paris within doors, there was still a tide of pedestrians fluent on the sidewalk, beyond the flimsy barrier of firs, that would thicken to a ravening mob upon the least excuse. + 

He had mistaken his man; he had thought that Lanyard, even if aware of his pursuit, would seek to shake it off in flight rather than turn and fightтБатАФand fight here, of all places! + 

тАЬDo you hear me?тАЭ Lanyard continued in the same level and unyielding tone. тАЬBring both hands in sightтБатАФupon the table!тАЭ + 

There was no more hesitation: Ekstrom obeyed, if with the sullen grace of a wild beast that would and could slay its trainer with one sweep of its pawтБатАФif only it dared. + 

For the first time since leaving the girl Lanyard relaxed his vigilant watch over the man long enough for one swift glance through the window at his side. But she was already vanished from the caf├й. + 

He breathed more freely now. + 

тАЬCome!тАЭ he said peremptorily. тАЬGet up. WeтАЩve got to talk, I presumeтБатАФthrash this matter outтБатАФand weтАЩll come to no decision here.тАЭ + 

тАЬWhere do we go, then?тАЭ the German demanded suspiciously. + 

тАЬWe can walk.тАЭ + 

Irresolutely the spy uncrossed his knees, but didnтАЩt rise. + 

тАЬWalk?тАЭ he repeated, тАЬwalk where?тАЭ + 

тАЬUp the boulevard, if you likeтБатАФwhere the lights are brightest.тАЭ + 

тАЬAh!тАЭтБатАФwith a malignant flash of teethтБатАФтАЬbut I donтАЩt trust you.тАЭ + 

Lanyard laughed: тАЬYou wear only one shoe of that pair, my dear captain! WeтАЩre a distrustful flock, we birds of prey. Come along! Why sit there sulking, like a spoiled child? YouтАЩve made an ass of yourself, following me to Paris; sadly though you bungled that job in London, I gave you credit for more wit than to poke your head into the lionтАЩs mouth here. ButтБатАФadmitting thatтБатАФwhy not be graceful about it? Here am I, amiably treating you like an equal: you might at least show gratitude enough to accept my invitation to fl├вner yourself!тАЭ + 

With a grunt the spy got upon his feet, while Lanyard stood back, against the window, and made him free of the narrow path between the tree-tubs and the tables. + 

тАЬAfter you, my dear AdolphтБатАКтБатАжтАК!тАЭ + 

The German paused, half turned towards him, choking with rage, his suffused face darkly relieving its white scars won at Heidelberg. At this, with a nod of unmistakable meaning, Lanyard advanced the muzzle of his pocketed weapon; and with an ugly growl the German moved on and out to the sidewalk, Lanyard respectfully an inch or two behind his elbow. + 

тАЬTo your right,тАЭ he requested pleasantlyтБатАФтАЬif itтАЩs all the same to you: IтАЩve business on the BoulevardsтБатАКтБатАжтАЭ + 

Ekstrom said nothing for the moment, but sullenly yielded to the suggestion. + 

тАЬBy the way,тАЭ the adventurer presently pursued, тАЬyou might be good enough to inform me how you knew where we were diningтБатАФeh?тАЭ + 

тАЬIf it interests youтБатАФтАЭ + 

тАЬI own it doesтБатАФtremendously!тАЭ + 

тАЬPure accident: I happened to be sitting in the caf├й, and caught a glimpse of you through the door as you went upstairs. Therefore I waited till the waiter asked for your bill at the caisse, then stationed myself outside.тАЭ + 

тАЬBut why? Can you tell me what you thought to accomplish?тАЭ + 

тАЬYou know well,тАЭ Ekstrom muttered. тАЬAfter what happened in LondonтБатАКтБатАж itтАЩs your life or mine!тАЭ + 

тАЬSpoken like a true villain! But it seems to me you overlooked a conspicuous chance to accomplish your hellish design, back there in the side streets.тАЭ + 

тАЬWould I be such a fool as to shoot you down before finding out what youтАЩve done with those plans?тАЭ + 

тАЬYou might as well have,тАЭ Lanyard informed him lightlyтБатАКтБатАж тАЬFor you wonтАЩt know otherwise.тАЭ + 

With an infuriated oath the German stopped short: but he dared not ignore the readiness with which his tormentor imitated the manoeuvre and kept the pistol trained through the fabric of his raincoat. + 

тАЬYesтБатАФ?тАЭ the adventurer enquired with an exasperating accent of surprise. + 

тАЬUnderstand me,тАЭ Ekstrom muttered vindictively: тАЬnext time IтАЩll show you no mercyтБатАФтАЭ + 

тАЬBut if there is no next time? WeтАЩre not apt to meet again, you know.тАЭ + 

тАЬThatтАЩs something beyond your knowledgeтБатАФтАЭ + 

тАЬYou think so?тБатАКтБатАж But shanтАЩt we resume our stroll? People might notice us standing hereтБатАФyou with your teeth bared like an ill-tempered dog.тБатАКтБатАж Oh, thank you!тАЭ And as they moved on, Lanyard continued: тАЬShall I explain why weтАЩre not apt to meet again?тАЭ + 

тАЬIf it amuses you.тАЭ + 

тАЬThanks once more!тБатАКтБатАж For the simple reason that Paris satisfies me; so here I stop.тАЭ + 

тАЬWell?тАЭ the spy asked with a blank sidelong look. + 

тАЬWhereas you are leaving Paris tonight.тАЭ + 

тАЬWhat makes you think that?тАЭ + 

тАЬBecause you value your thick hide too highly to remain, my dear captain.тАЭ Having gained the corner of the boulevard St.┬аDenis, Lanyard pulled up. тАЬOne moment, by your leave. You see yonder the entrance to the M├йtroтБатАФdonтАЩt you? And here, a dozen feet away, a perfectly able-bodied sergent de ville? Let this fateful conjunction impress you properly: for five minutes after you have descended to the M├йtroтБатАФor as soon as the noise of a train advises me youтАЩve had one chance to get awayтБатАФI shall mention casually to the sergoтБатАФthat I have seen Captain EkтБатАФтАЭ + 

тАЬHush!тАЭ the German protested in a hiss of fright. + 

тАЬBut certainly: IтАЩve no desire to embarrass you: publicity must be terribly distasteful to one of your sensitive and retiring disposition.тБатАКтБатАж But I trust you understand me? On the one hand, thereтАЩs the M├йtro; on the other, thereтАЩs the flic; while here, you must admit, am I, as large as life and very much on the job!тБатАКтБатАж And inasmuch as I shall certainly mention my suspicions to the minion of the lawтБатАФas aforesaidтБатАФIтАЩd advise you to be well out of Paris before dawn!тАЭ + 

There was murder in the eyes of the spy as he lingered, truculently glowering at the smiling adventurer; and for an instant Lanyard was well-persuaded he had gone too far, that even there, even on that busy junction of two crowded thoroughfares, Ekstrom would let his temper get the better of his judgment and risk everything in an attempt upon the life of his despoiler. + 

But he was mistaken. + 

With a surly shrug the spy swung about and marched straight to the kiosk of the underground railway, into which, without one backward glance, he disappeared. + 

Two minutes later the earth beneath LanyardтАЩs feet quaked with the crash and rumble of a northbound train. + 

He waited three minutes longer; but Ekstrom didnтАЩt reappear; and at length convinced that his warning had proved effectual, Lanyard turned and made off. + 