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Even if I had not, I should assume that I had. Our little world is yours to
commandtonight.
On one side of it the mass of a greatchurch loomed immense and
black.
Hanaud leaned out of the window and spoke in a whisper. Ricardoand threw
up his hands in despair.
We opened it when we saw the lights of your car, said
the man, and athis touch the door swung open. And there she sat looking at her
little dirty finger andsaying politely, How terribly nice of you! He reeled
back against the wall, gasping for breath. Calculation, perhaps, but above all
suspense with its parted lips andwide, staring, expectant eyes. It is my friend
Ricardos car, andit does not open.
He turnedthem over and bent his head down to
them and nodded to himself.
It is very good, said Hanaud with simplicity.
He
drives from the station to the Prefecture. I have been looking back upon all
that was said and done this evening.
They are the property of the State, he
cried.
Ricardowas at pains not to interrupt his reflections. Hanaud sat very
silent in the darkness of the limousine, and Mr. Ricardo stepped forward busily
and reached out a hand to thegate. But youshall tell us all that you have done
in Bordeaux. That pretty necklace goes very wellwith the boudoir! We opened it
when we saw the lights of your car, said the man, and athis touch the door
swung open. It will be interesting to see how she takes it. Hanaud leaned out
of the window and spoke in a whisper.
Hanaud carried Joyce Whipple out toit and
set her feet upon the footboard and helped her in.
I borrow a cloak; and in a
minute hewas back again.
Will you let the plate go, if you please,
mademoiselle? Hanaud would want him at his side if only to show him
howwonderfully well he shot. A man moved forward from theshrubs within the
garden and opened the gate for them.
Ricardo with a delicious thrill of fear
running upand down his spine.
They dare not tell him that Hanaud is eating his
dinner. So Moreau sends him to your fine hotel on the Cours deL! He bundled
Ricardo unceremoniously into the car, and jumped in after him. And I borrow
anightdress from the manageress.
On the contrary, sir, Hanaud retorted,
smiling. Hanaud cried with asavage irony, and the old woman shrank from him
whimpering excuses andpromises. It is not so bad, Ricardo approved indulgently.
But he atoned for the grin the next moment. So Moreau sends him to your fine
hotel on the Cours deL!
He should turn to the left for the Rue Gregoire,
saidHanaud.
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