第19部分(第2/8 頁)

He　was　in　no　mood　for　appreciating　the　beauties　of　scenery。　A　fully　matured　scheme　had　been　rudely　brought　to　naught；　and　his　plans　had　to　be　cast　afresh。　Stretching　himself　out　in　a　basket　chair；　a　cigarette　held　between　his　white　fingers；　the　te　pondered　deeply。

Presently　Hippolyte；　his　manservant；　brought　out　coffee　and　a　choice　of　liqueurs。　The　te　selected　some　very　fine　old　brandy。

As　the　man…servant　was　preparing　to　depart；　the　te　arrested　him　with　a　slight　gesture。　Hippolyte　stood　respectfully　to　attention。

His　countenance　was　hardly　a　prepossessing　one；　but　the　correctitude　of　his　demeanour　went　far　to　obliterate　the　fact。

He　was　now　the　picture　of　respectful　attention。

〃It　is　possible；〃　said　the　te；　〃that　in　the　course　of　the　next　few　days　various　strangers　may　e　to　the　house。　They　will　endeavour　to　scrape　acquaintance　with　you　and　with　Marie。　They　will　probably　ask　you　various　questions　concerning　me。〃

〃Yes；　Monsieur　le　te。〃

〃Perhaps　this　has　already　happened？〃

〃No；　Monsieur　le　te。〃

〃There　have　been　no　strangers　about　the　place？　You　are　certain？〃

〃There　has　been　no　one；　Monsieur　le　te。〃

〃That　is　well；〃　said　the　te　drily；　〃nevertheless　they　will　e　…　I　am　sure　of　it。　They　will　ask　questions。〃

Hippolyte　looked　at　his　master　in　intelligent　anticipation。

The　te　spoke　slowly；　without　looking　at　Hippolyte。

〃As　you　know；　I　arrived　here　last　Tuesday　morning。　If　the　police　or　any