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"Do you mean to say that that was your first visit to the Cafe des Deux Epingles?" "Absolutely my first visit," I answered. "I met Louis by accident that night. He knew that I was bored, and he took me there." "You met him at the Opera and you asked him who we were," she remarked. "That is quite true," I admitted, "but I scarcely see that there was anything impertinent in that.
"When he has finished his business we move on." "Will you tell me, then," I asked, "why you, too, were at the Cafe des Deux Epingles? You admit that it is the resort of people of mysterious habits. What place had you there?" She looked away from me for a moment. My question seemed to disconcert her, perhaps by reason of its directness.
More than once the manager of the restaurant, for such I imagined him to be, glanced towards me, and I was fairly certain that I formed the subject of their conversation. When it was finished Louis beckoned, and we all three turned towards the door together, Louis in the centre. "This," he said to me, "is Monsieur Carvin, the manager of the Cafe des Deux Epingles.
"It is our pleasure to save you from the unpleasant consequences which would certainly have befallen you in any other place than the Cafe des Deux Epingles after your shall we say misunderstanding? with James Tapilow." "I admit my indebtedness, Louis," I answered. "Will you do something to repay it?" Louis asked, raising his eyes to mine. "You will have to tell me what it is first," I said.
He was very unhappy, having to do with a despot who would have his will executed, when the first volume of Smith's Wealth of Nations fell into his hands. He opened on the division of Labour, our favourite pin-making: "Ha, ha! voila mon affaire; je ferai mes calcules comme on fait les epingles!"
His cheeks seemed to distend and his eyes grow smaller. It was no longer necessary for him to play a part. He was becoming angry indeed. "Monsieur," he said, "I remember you now. It was you who tried to flirt with this lady last night in the Cafe des Deux Epingles. You have not even the excuse of ignorance. All the world knows that I have claims upon this lady." I bowed.
"I think that I show my interest," she murmured, "in meeting monsieur here. Tell me," she continued, "why were you there with Louis?" "A chance affair," I answered. "I met him coming out of the Opera. I was bored, and we went together to the Montmartre. There I think that I was more bored still. It was Louis who proposed a visit to the Cafe des Deux Epingles."
She took hold of the lapels of my coat as though to pull me down a little towards her. I felt my heart beat quickly, for the deep blue light was in her eyes. "Ah, Capitaine Rotherby," she said, "you do not understand! This man Louis he is not only what he seems! I think that he took you to the Cafe des Deux Epingles that night with a purpose.
Monsieur Decresson smiled grimly. "What happens in the Cafe des Deux Epingles," he said, "happens outside the world. Without special permission it would not be possible for Monsieur Tapilow to speak to the police of this assault. Buy your Figaro every evening," he continued, "and soon you will read. In the meantime, I recommend you, monsieur, not to stay too long in Paris."
"I do not understand why those people at the Cafe des Deux Epingles should shield you when you are not one of them, when you have no knowledge of any of them save the very slightest. They are not philanthropists, those people. Some day or other you will have to pay the price!" I shrugged my shoulders. "I have never refused to pay my just debts," I said.
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