Henry C. Rowland

“ In Ivan's big organisation of European thieves there were a good many hard, desperate people, yet I do not believe that there was a single one who would have dared to hold Chu-Chu up at the point of a gun in the presence of Ivan himself, as I had done, and prove him a liar to his chief, to say nothing of depriving him of gems worth a fortune. That alone was plenty to set Chu-Chu on my trail, to say nothing of my having tried to kill him in his motor on the road to Boulogne. ”

“ Chu-Chu's features suggested a Spanish or possibly Basque origin, with high cheek bones, red-lipped mouth, the upper lip dropping to a point in the middle, and suggesting to me the beak of a snapping turtle, while his nose was long and acquisitive—a nose like the late King Leopold's.
Another thing in my favour was the fact that there was little danger of my being drawn into imprudence by such a hatred as Chu-Chu must have felt for me. There are certain human beings who are affected by the sight of an enemy just as you might expect a wild bull to be. ”

“ Then one hot day, when the little "terrace"—as they call the strip of sidewalk enclosed by dwarf oranges—was crowded, and even the inner room was well filled, a freshly-painted, saucy little auto-taxi drew up to the curb, and down from the driver's seat stepped a very pretty, smartly-costumed chauffeuse. Just at this time the Prefecture had decided to issue permits to women, and quite a number of enterprising young persons started in to compete with the men. ”

“ It was tiresome work watching there for a sign of Chu-Chu, but the two proverbs or maxims of which I have always most admired the truth are "It's dogged as does it," and " Everything comes to him who waits." Personally I believe that there is some sort of compelling, cohesive force given off from the person or animal that sits down and quietly waits and wishes for his prey. That force goes out in time to draw the desired object, especially when the wishing is done conscientiously and without any let-up. ”

“ This chauffeur was apparently a man past middle age, and seemed altogether of the new type that has now become so common to this class. He looked to be of medium size and weight, was costumed in the usual uniform, and wore a closely-cropped moustache of iron-grey. His face was rather high-featured, the nose aquiline, and the eyes dark and overhung by bushy, grizzled eyebrows. ”

“ It sends the blood to their heads and makes them a bit crazy, and even if they are able to control their actions their looks are apt to give them away. Chu-Chu was rather of this sort, I was inclined to think, and though he could be as acute as a fox when on the job, it wasn't unlikely that he d make some sort of a break once he thought that I was in his neighbourhood.
But what seemed to me by long odds the best card in my fist was the tip that Ivan had given me as we parted. Said Ivan: "Look out for an Oriental type of person with one nostril larger than the other. He is Chu-Chu's familiar. ”

“ Germain hidden in a clump of bay and laurel, rigging myself out like a prédicateur, or wandering preacher. I knew the part to perfection, for there had been one of these chaps doing missionary work at Cayenne, and several times I had talked with him and learned all about the fraternity. The costume, as well as the rôle, was ideal for my business. A man might wear anything under the long black soutane, and the round black hat had a wide brim that shielded the face by the least bend of the head. ”

“ You were startled at the expression of my face?"
She nodded. "That is true," she admitted. "When I sat down opposite you your look was that of a studious priest. Then all at once you laid down the book and looked through the window with the mouth and eyes of an apache about to strike. Oh, monsieur!"
She drew back, checking a little frightened gasp. While she was speaking I had looked through the window again, and as I did so the chauffeur in the taxi across the street leaned forward as if to examine something at his feet. In that second I recognised him for Chu-Chu le Tondeur ”

“ For all of his acuteness at home there is no such sucker as the travelling American, especially if you strike him when he's a bit lonely and has had his leg pulled by Europeans, and thinks that the American language with an Ohio accent is a guarantee of good faith. ”

“ Another thing that helped was the fact that these preachers often wear shaded goggles, having formed the habit out in the colonies. It's a great point in favour of a man disguised to have his eyes screened. There are fine subtle lines of expression around a man's eyes that are almost impossible to control at all times. ”

“ But it is because of the woman who lives there that I have become a prédicateur"
The interest that every Frenchwoman always lends to a love story flamed up in her face.
"And the man for whom the taxi is waiting is your enemy?" ”

“ They have since practically disappeared, the profession not being adapted to the sex, due perhaps to the ladies insisting on the feminine prerogative of changing their minds when meeting somebody on the road. ”