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Maitre Leroux accompanied Nigel to his chamber. He expressed his pleasure on hearing that he had obtained the object of his wishes. "Would that I could accompany you," he said, with a sigh; "but my duty compels me to remain, and watch over my master's property, should he be called away. Ah, he is a kind, good master, and his daughter is an angel.
The room was completely dark, and I did not know whether it connected with other rooms or was a mere closet, but the freshness of the air in it inclined me to the former view. Over my head the torrent roared, and I had to stand very close to the door to hear what passed. I heard Leroux tramp in and his voice mingling with the click-click of the ball in the roulette-wheel.
Hal saluted and did as commanded. Hardly had he reached position above when he heard Captain Leroux below give the command: "Fire!" The Germans had drawn off again. The last assault had met with no better success than had the attacks that had gone before.
There were dainty feminine trifles littered in the big armchair, and a motor-coat hung upon the hook of the bathroom door. A small cabin-trunk in one corner of the room bore the initials: "M. L." Max dropped back into the incredible library with a stifled gasp. "Pardieu!" he said. "It is Mrs. Leroux that I have found!"
"He'll have to do the best he can. Cook's goin' too!" "What! cook is going?" "I am!" announced a deep, female voice. And the cook appeared beside the maid. "But whatever " began Helen; then, realizing that she could achieve no good end by such an attitude: "Tell Mr. Leroux," she instructed the maid, quietly, "that I wish to see him."
His visitor kept moistening her dry lips and swallowing, emotionally. Standing at a discreet distance from her: "Madam," began Leroux, nervously. She waved her hand, enjoining him to silence, and at the same time intimating that she would explain herself directly speech became possible.
Nigel, who was pleased with Maitre Leroux, though anxious to continue his journey, willingly agreed to wait for the purpose of having his escort. "But I have engaged my horse for to-morrow," he added.
"No, no, I won't have him murdered, Simon," he protested, laying a trembling hand on Leroux's shoulder. "He has almost as good a roulette system as I have." We must have stood confronting each other for fully a minute. Then Leroux dropped his hands and smiled sourly at me. "You seem temporarily to have the advantage of me, M. Hewlett," he said.
Maitre Leroux carried a brace of huge pistols in his holsters, while Nigel had a sword and a light arquebus, both their attendants being also armed; so that they were well able to defend themselves against any small party of marauders such as infested the roads in the neighbourhood of the capital. "We must make but a short stage to-day," said Maitre Leroux.
Leroux put down his pen and stood up. "Damn it! he's out! I have no memory!" He retied the girdle of his dressing-gown, which had become unfastened, and opened the study door. Opposite, across the entrance lobby, was the outer door; and in the light from the lobby lamp he perceived two laughing eyes peering in under the upraised flap of the letter-box. The ringing ceased.
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