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"It will be a great pleasure to us to do the very best possible for any of Louis' friends." Mr. Bundercombe rose to his feet. He pointed to the little glass-framed office at the other side of the room. "Mr. Giatron," he said, "I have always been a great patron of Louis. You and I must have a chat.
Very deliberately he produced a great bunch of keys from his pocket and opened the safe, which stood in a corner of the office. Mr. Bundercombe whispered a scarcely audible word in my ear and became absorbed once more in the brandy. Presently Giatron returned. He laid on the desk and smoothed out carefully what was to all appearances a ten-pound note.
"You recognize the fact, however, that the note is beyond question counterfeit?" Mr. Giatron persisted. "I fear you are right," Mr. Bundercombe admitted. "There is a slight imperfection. Yes, yes a very bad business, Mr. Giatron! We must come here often and try to see whether we cannot make you a second Luigi." Giatron returned to the safe with the note, which he carefully locked up.
I am the guilty one for placing such a temptation in your way. Now where's this Monsieur Giatron of yours?" Louis looked at him wonderingly. There was a dawn of hope in his face, blended with a startled fear. "He arrives in ten minutes," he announced. "He comes down for the supper. He is here." Mr. Bundercombe glanced round. A stout man, with a black mustache, had entered the room.
Bundercombe ordered dinner and beckoned Louis to come a little nearer. "Was there any trouble?" he inquired. "For me, no," Louis replied; "but Monsieur Giatron never, never have I seen a man like it! He fetched out the note. 'Now, he said, 'I take your notice! You take mine! Ring up the police! Or shall I? "Then I tell him. I say: 'I don't believe the note bad at all! He laughed at me.
The napkin was soon procured and I rubbed myself dry. The restaurant keeper returned to the desk at Mr. Bundercombe's side. "All I can say," Mr. Bundercombe declared, as he drew away from the note, which he had been examining, "is that I do not wonder you were deceived, Mr. Giatron. This note is the most perfect imitation I have ever seen in my life. A wicked piece of work, sir!"
"Very excellent brandy!" Mr. Bundercombe pronounced warmly. "You will see a great deal more of us, my friend. I promise you that. We shall haunt you!" Mr. Giatron bowed to the ground. "You are always very welcome and the young lady!" We rejoined Eve, paid our bill, and made our way to the door. Louis, looking very pathetic, was in the background. Mr. Bundercombe beckoned to him.
'I told you when you charged me I didn't believe it. That is why I have made up my mind to give you notice, to go away from here. And if that note is bad then you can put me in prison. "Monsieur Giatron he went back to the safe. He rummaged round among a pile of papers and soon he came out again. He was looking pasty-colored. 'Louis, he said, 'some one has been very clever!
We went into the office; Giatron himself placed three glasses upon the desk and produced from a cupboard a bottle of what appeared to be very superior brandy. Mr. Bundercombe sipped his with relish. Then he glanced at the closed door. "Mr. Giatron," he began, "I have been having a chat with Louis.
His eyes fell at once on the little group. Mr. Bundercombe turned round. "So that is Monsieur Giatron?" Louis bowed. Mr. Bundercombe beckoned the proprietor to approach. "An old patron of Luigi's," Mr. Bundercombe explained, introducing himself "come round to see our friend Louis, here." "Delighted, I am very sure!" Mr. Giatron exclaimed, bowing to all of us.
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