Marie Belloc Lowndes

“ Paul De Poupel pulled out the little back seat, but Oldchester, taking quick possession of it, motioned him to sit by Mabel.
“To Paris, Hôtel du Louvre,” the count called out to the driver. “You can take as long as you like over the journey.” Then he bent forward to Oldchester. “The air will do her good,” he murmured,
By his side, huddled up in a corner of the carriage, Mabel Blackett lay back inertly; her eyes were wide open; she was staring hungrily at the sky, at the stars. She had never thought to see the sky and the stars again. ”

“ Oldchester thought the remark too obvious to answer. Of course Enghien was a queer place; to put it plainly, little better than a gambling hell. But it was rather strange to hear the Comte De Poupel saying so—a real case if ever there was one, of Satan rebuking sin. But at last:
“Of course it is,” he said irritably. “I can't think what made Mrs. Blackett go there in the first instance.”
“She was brought there by the Danish lady she met in a hotel in Paris, and who disappeared so strangely,” answered Paul De Poupel quickly. “It is not the place for a young lady to be by herself.” ”

“ Oldchester, you go back there. It is not right that Mrs. Blackett should be by herself. It may seem absurd to you, but, believe me, Enghien is not a safe spot in which to leave an unprotected woman. She has not one single friend, not a person to whom she could turn to for advice—excepting, of course, the excellent Noirs, who keep the pension, and they naturally desire to keep their good guest. ”

“ As you say, monsieur, the Comte De Poupel's room is now empty, but——” He hesitated, and with a sly look added: “Indeed, we have another room empty to-night—a far finer room, the room of Madame Blackett.”
“The room of Mrs. Blackett?” echoed Oldchester. “Has Mrs. Blackett changed her room?”
“Oh, no, monsieur. She left Enghien this very evening. I have but just now received a letter from her.”
The little man could hardly keep serious. Oh! Those Americans who are said to be so cold! They also when in love behave like other people!
“Ah, what a charming lady, monsieur! ”

“ Paul De Poupel shook his head,
“Those people are not nice people,” he said decidedly. “They appear to be very fond of are Mrs. Blackett, but they they are only fond of themselves. They are adventurers, 'out for the stuff,' as you Americans say. The man is the worst type of gambler, the type that believes he is going to get rich, rich beyond the dreams of avarice, by a 'system.' Such a man will do anything for money. ”

“ He took his watch out of his pocket.
“There's a train for Enghien at a quarter to ten,” he said slowly. “That would be an excellent train for you—for us to take.”
“Then are you thinking of going back to Enghien, too?” There was a sarcastic inflection in the American's voice,
“Yes.”
The Comte De Poupel looked at Oldchester significantly, and his look said: “Take care, my friend. We do not allow a man to sneer at another man in this country unless he is willing to stand certain unpleasant consequences.” ”

“ Still, Monsieur Noir was sorry that he had not Madame Noir at his elbow to make the decision for him.
“Here it is,” he said at last, taking a piece of paper out of a drawer. “I must have put it there for Madame Noir to read it on her return. It is a very gratifying letter—monsieur will see that for himself.” ”

“ Each man helped another over very quietly, and then the three gendarmes dispersed with swift, noiseless steps, each seeking a point of vantage commanding the house. Oldchester and Paul De Poupel, talking in loud, confident tones, walked quickly up the path. ”

“ The count rushed into the guardroom, hurriedly explained his errand to the superintendent, and came out, but a moment later, with three men.
“We must make room for them somehow,” he said briefly, and room was made,
Oldchester noticed with surprise that each man was armed not only with a stave, but with a revolver. The French police show no kindness even to potential criminals. ”