E. Phillips Oppenheim

“ Madame commented coldly. “How do you desire to obtain possession of this quittance? By service or payment?”
“Madame,” Reinhardt said, “compared with the majority of my country people I happen to be a rich and prosperous man. If a payment is necessary before I receive my quittance, I will make it. Service, I fear, will be more difficult. I have lost my taste for the irregular. I have taken my place among the sedate ones of the earth.”
“Money,” Madame rejoined, “I do not accept. Service of a sort I expect. What your task may be you shall know within a few hours. ”

“ That medieval-looking fortress to the right is Grasse. This is the village of St. Joseph—the highest point on the road. And we are going to pay a visit to the Château St Joseph,” he added, ringing a bell which hung down in the great stone portico before which they had halted.
“Does any sane man live up here?” Reinhardt growled.
“This château,” Cardinge told him, “is the home of the great family of de Montercey—the Marquis de Montercey lives here now. We're going to call upon him.”
“Why?” Reinhardt inquired suspiciously. ”

“ Had I but known half an hour before!”
“But it is only within ten minutes that I have received the message, Marie,” her master expostulated. “Eat the dinner yourself this evening—you and the good man Jean.”
The wife of Jean was indignant.
“Such food for us!” she scoffed. “Of all things the most ridiculous. Jean would drink too much wine and go off to the village. One must do what one can,” she wound up, snatching the pots from the fire.
Cardinge and Claire walked slowly down the avenue, across the strip of dusty road and along a winding path—a short cut through the grounds to the villa. ”

“ Reinhardt demanded. “A hospital?”
Cardinge shook his head.
“It is one of the most famous châteaux of France,” he answered. “The Marquis, however, is a very unhappy man. He lost three sons in the war. For their sakes, he entertains here a score of invalids. Can you guess what is the matter with these men, Reinhard?”
“They look like consumptives,” was the muttered reply.
CARDINGE led him on, spoke to one of the nurses, who welcomed him as an habitué, and exchanged a few words with some of the patients. Then he turned back to his companion. ”

“ In the center of the table was an inset glass bowl, lit by tiny electric lights—a bowl, floating in the waters of which were great clusters of cut roses. A butler and two footmen waited with noiseless efficiency. Armand, who had come in late and confessed to having lost money at baccarat at Nice, ate and drank in sulky silence. Reinhardt was exceedingly careful in the topics of conversation which he introduced. Madame declined to allow any embarrassment, however, as to his nationality.
“Tell me how they receive you when you travel,” she insisted. “Has the world changed yet? ”

“ Madame smiled.
“Then sit up and ask yourself how long it will take you to deposit that money at the Société Générale at Nice.”
“I should have to return to Germany,” he groaned, looking down at the carpet.
“That would not be advisable,” Madame replied. “My nephew here will act as your messenger. He is a young man of great discretion. You can have every confidence in him. The moment I hear that he has the money and is on French soil, you shall be welcome to go where you will. Until then you will be my guest.”
Again Reinhardt looked down at the carpet and again Madame read his thoughts. ”

“ It will leave you still a rich man and without that fear, which must surely sometimes haunt you, of having your back to a wall and the bandage over your eyes.”
“I decline,” Reinhardt declared furiously. “That is all there is to say about it. You understand? I decline. You can keep my quittance.”
Madame smiled.
“That,” she said, “is very unwise. The Chef de Sûreté at Nice is a particular friend of mine. I have asked him to send me a trusted man from his office—who, by the bye, is now reading in the garden. ”

“ Monsieur le Marquis, Reinhardt, has lost his three sons during the war and has devoted the remainder of his life to taking care of those who suffered as they suffered but whose lives were spared. Monsieur le Marquis' three sons died of gas-poisoning.”
'It is most regrettable,” Reinhardt muttered.
“Monsieur le Marquis' whole income,” Cardinge proceeded, “goes to the support of these poor fellows. It is not sufficient. He has a small grant from the French Government. Other friends—Madame among them—have been privileged to subscribe. ”

“ I don't believe you're a day more than thirty-seven. I'm twenty, and there should be twelve years' difference between a man and a woman to make for companionship. Therefore, you're four or five years older than I am. ”

“ THE latest visitor to the villa was called and escorted to his bath in the morning by a capable young man-servant who informed him that coffee would be served upon the piazza at half-past eight. When he descended he found a little table set for one. On it was a note addressed to him in Madame's penciled handwriting. He tore it open. It contained the briefest of messages.
“You will place yourself in Hugh Cardinge's hands for the day. If you are successful the quittance will be yours to-night. ”

“ Reinhardt persisted, “that it is not my desire, especially at the present moment, to run counter to the law.”
“I understand also,” she replied with a touch of sarcasm, “that you desire your quittance. ”