第19部分(第7/7 頁)

　the　town。　Presently　he　reentered　the　car　and　drove　off　in　the　direction　of　Mentone。　Earlier　in　the　afternoon　he　had　noticed　an　inconspicuous　grey　car　some　little　distance　behind　him。　He　noticed　it　again　now。　He　smiled　to　himself。　The　road　was　climbing　steadily　upwards。　The　te's　foot　pressed　hard　on　the　accelerator。　The　little　red　car　had　been　specially　built　to　the　te's　design；　and　had　a　far　more　powerful　engine　than　would　have　been　suspected　from　its　appearance。　It　shot　ahead。

Presently　he　looked　back　and　smiled；　the　grey　car　was　following　behind。　Smothered　in　dust；　the　little　red　car　leaped　along　the　road。　It　was　travelling　now　at　a　dangerous　pace；　but　the　te　was　a　first…class　driver。

Now　they　were　going　downhill；　twisting　and　curving　unceasingly。　Presently　the　car　slackened　speed；　and　finally　came　to　a　standstill　before　a　Bureau　de　P