第19部分(第2/7 頁)

servant；　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　other　inquirer　should　question　you；　do　not　forget　that　fact。　I　arrived　on　Tuesday；　the　14th　…　not　Wednesday；　the　15th。　You　understand？〃

〃Perfectly；　Monsieur　le　te。〃

〃In　an　affair　where　a　lady　is　concerned；　it　is　always　necessary　to　be　discreet。　I　feel　certain；　Hippolyte；　that　you　can　be　discreet。〃

〃I　can　be　discreet；　Monsieur。〃

〃And　Marie？〃

〃Marie　also。　I　will　answer　for　her。〃

〃That　is　well　then；〃　murmured　the　te。

When　Hippolyte　had　withdrawn；　the　te　sipped　his　black　coffee　with　a　reflective　air。　Occasionally　he　frowned；　once　he　shook　his　head