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The ecclesiastic took off his shoes; then his collar. Then he lay down on the bed. "You will sleep with all your clothes on?" asked Fandor-Vinson. "Yes, when I have to sleep in a bed I am not accustomed to!... Should I blow out the candle, Corporal?" "Blow it out, Monsieur l'Abbé." Fandor felt sure the little priest was a woman disguised. He dare not take off his cassock because he was she!
Fandor was not surprised to see the little priest instinctively act as would a woman.... But, would not a priest, accustomed to wear a cassock, act as a woman would? Fandor realised that, in this instance, the riddle of sex was still unsolved. Fandor-Vinson began to undress: the priest continued to polish his nails. "You are not going to bed, Monsieur l'Abbé?" "Yes, I am."
Juve's interest in this piece of news was keen! "But, Commandant, you cannot possibly maintain that I am not Jérôme Fandor, journalist!" The interview between Commandant Dumoulin and Fandor had already lasted an hour. It was unlike that which had taken place six days before, when Dumoulin had dealt summarily with the Fandor-Vinson case.
And at Bonniéres we must be on guard: the police there are merciless: they arrest everyone who exceeds the speed limit.... Nor do we wish to arouse their curiosity about us personally. There is a number of troops stationed here: the colonel is notorious for his strictness: he is correctness personified." Fandor-Vinson stared questionably at the abbé.
"Oh," replied Fandor-Vinson, "one takes things as they come!... But we should be much more comfortable if we fastened this rather clumsy piece of baggage to the front seat, beside the chauffeur, who can keep an eye on it!" "Corporal! You cannot be thinking of what you are saying!" The priest's reply was delivered in a dry authoritative voice. "I have put my foot in it," thought Fandor.
At last a tall, thin, red-bearded young man walked into the room: he greeted Fandor-Vinson with: "Good evening, Corporal. Our mutual friends have informed us that we might expect you. They have not arrived yet; but there is no need to wait for a regular introduction what do you think?" "You are too kind, Monsieur. A simple corporal like myself is very fortunate to find friends in a garrison town."
Corporal Fandor-Vinson found the necessary words to show he fully understood the quality of the payment its real value. Supposing that no more would be required of him, he tried to get free of this spy, and leave the premises, but his red-bearded paymaster had other views. "Now, Corporal," said he, "shall we empty a bottle together in honour of our meeting?"
At last Corporal Fandor-Vinson rose: "My leave has not expired, it is true, Monsieur," he said, "but I have some rounds to make. Pray excuse me!" The thin, red-bearded young man did not seek to detain him. The interview was at an end: the business done for that evening. "You will return, will you not, Corporal?" asked his host.
As they were approaching Bonniéres, Fandor, whose eyes had been fixed on the interminable route, as though at some turn of the road he might catch sight of their real destination, now felt that the abbé was watching the landscape through half-closed eyes. "You are awake, then, Monsieur l'Abbé?" observed Fandor-Vinson. "I was wondering where we were." "We are coming to Bonniéres." "Good!"
He was too pleased with his room-mate's request. In next to no time with a kind of barrack-room lick and polish Fandor-Vinson had washed his face, had dressed, was ready. "My dear Abbé," said he, "if you would like me to, I will ascertain whether your chauffeur is up, and will tell him to get ready to start." "I was going to ask you to do that very thing, Corporal."
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