"Ah! Good!... Now tell me is there no railway along the route we are following?"
"No. They intend laying down a line for strategic purposes, but they have not started on it yet."
The chauffeur smiled approval, while continuing to tinker at his machine.
"Ah, these projects!" he remarked. "They are long in coming to anything--these French administrative projects!"
"Well!... Yes."
There was a pregnant silence.
Fandor thought: "This grows interesting: it is quite on the cards that this tourist may be."...
"Ouf!" exclaimed the chauffeur, suddenly jumping up. "A stiff job this, Corporal! Will you be good enough to lend me a hand again?"
"Certainly."
"Oh, not just at once!... Let me rest a few moments! Doubled up as I have been, my back feels positively broken."
The stranger took a few steps along the road. He pointed to the horizon.
"One has a pretty view here!... You know this part of the country, Corporal?"
"So, so!... Fairly well."
"Ah! Then you can give me some information!... What is that other big chimney down there?... Do you see it?... Between those trees! Those two trees--there!"
"It is the chimney of the bell foundry."
"Ah, yes, I have heard that foundry mentioned, it is true.... It seems to be quite near!"
Fandor shook his head.
"It seems to be--but, by the road, it is a good eleven kilometres away."
"As much as that? As the crow flies it is close to."
"Yes. It seems so."
The chauffeur insisted:
"But, how far do you think it is, Corporal, from here to it, in a straight line?... They ought to teach you to measure distances in your regiment!"
Fandor was no longer in doubt: this man was the spy he was out to meet! Fandor once again recalled Vinson"s words: "When one has to do with a fresh spy chief, it is a certain thing that he will make you pa.s.s a little kind of examination ... will put you through a regular cross-examination to ascertain your capacities--what you are made of!"
Corporal Fandor-Vinson replied instantly:
"As the crow flies, I calculate it is not more than four kilometres.
The road winds a great deal."
"Good! Good!" cried the chauffeur. "I should have said so, also."
It seemed to Fandor that the man in the costly fur coat hesitated, was on the point of asking a question, thought better of it, turned away, went back to his car. He called out:
"Look here, Corporal! Since you are so kind, help me with this lever!"
That was soon done. The inquisition recommenced.
"Have you been long with the Verdun garrison?"
"Oh, no! Only a few days!"
"You are not bored?"
"Why should I be?"
"I mean--you do not find the discipline severe?"
Fandor tried to find out what the man in the fur coat was driving at.
"Oh, I have not much to complain of: I can get leave pretty easily."
"And that is always pleasant," remarked the man in the fur coat.
"Young soldiers in garrison towns have a deuced poor time of it--is that not so?... And they do not know how to amuse themselves when they have leave.... But, no doubt you have friends here, Corporal?"
"I do not know a soul in Verdun."
"Ah, well, since you have been so obliging, it would give me pleasure to introduce you to some people, if you would care for it?... You would find them amusing."
"You have friends in Verdun, sir?" asked Fandor in his turn.
"I know a few people: so does the abbe who accompanies me. I have it!... an idea ... Corporal, come at six o"clock this evening ... no, seven o"clock, and very punctually, and ask for me at the printing office of the Noret Brothers. They are real good fellows! You will find some youngsters of your own age there. You will find you have much in common. I am sure they will prove useful acquaintances."
The man in the fur coat accented the word "useful."
This told Fandor that there was business on hand at the printing works--and he was to be involved in it.
"You are really too kind, sir!... I do not wish to."...
"Not at all! Not at all! It is nothing! And you have been so obliging!... Come to the Noret"s at seven without fear of being considered an intruder!"
The man in the fur coat accentuated the word "fear" significantly. He set his motor going and jumped into the car.
"Again, many thanks, Corporal! I do not offer to take you back to Verdun, as my car has only two seats! Till this evening, then!"
The car moved off, rapidly putting on speed.
"There goes the chief spy!" thought Fandor. "Never set eyes on the fellow before, nor heard his voice, either! Now, whom shall I meet to-night at this cursed rendezvous, and what is the business? Some traitorous deviltry, of course!"