第11部分(第4/7 頁)

bsurd；　doubtless；　but　there　it　was。〃

Mr　Chubby　Evans　listened　with　a　very　imperfect　prehension；　his　French　being　of　a　limited　order。

〃So　like　the　French；〃　murmured　Mr　Evans。　He　was　one　of　those　staunch　patriotic　Britons　who；　having　made　a　portion　of　a　foreign　country　their　own；　strongly　resent　the　original　inhabitants　of　it。　〃Always　up　to　some　silly　dodge　or　other。　They've　never　tackled　people　on　the　station　before；　though。　This　is　something　quite　new。　I　suppose　you'll　have　to　go。〃

Katherine　departed　with　her　guide。　Somewhat　to　her　surprise；　he　led　her　towards　a　siding　where　a　coach　of　the　departed　train　had　been　shunted。　He　invited　her　to　mount　into　this；　and；　preceding　her　down　the　corridor；　held　aside　the　door　of　one　of　the　partments。

In　it　was　a　pompous…looking　official　personage；　and　with　him　a　nondescript　being　who　appeared　to　be　a　clerk。　The　pompous…looking　personage　rose　politely；　bowed　to　Katherine；　and　said：

〃You　will　excuse　me；　Madame；　but　there　are　certain　formalities　to　be　plied　with。　Madame　speaks　French；　I　trust？〃

〃Sufficiently；　I　think；　Monsieur；〃　replied　Katherine　in　that　language。

〃That　is　good。　Pray　be　seated；　Madame。　I　am　M。　Caux；　the　missary　of　Police。〃

He　blew　out　his　chest　importantly；　and　Katherine　tried　to　look　sufficiently　impressed。

〃You　wish　to　see　my　passport？〃　she　inquired。　〃Here　it　is。〃

The　missary　eyed　her　keenly　and　gave　a　little　grunt。

〃Thank　you；　Madame；〃　he　said；　taking　the　passport　from　her。　He　cleared　his　throat。

〃But　what　I　really　desire　is　a　little　information。〃

〃Information？〃

The　missary　nodded　his　head　slowly。

〃About　a　lady　who　has　been　a　fellow…passenger　of　yours。　You　lunched　with　her　yesterday。〃

〃I　am　afraid　I　can't