We know," said Lois. "I met Mr. Cardow at Longchamps. He knew."
Mr. Ingram's pain and distress seemed to increase.
He said, after a moment:
"Alfred will drive you home, dear, at once. Alfred, vous seriez gentil de reconduire Mademoiselle à la rue d'Athènes." He had the air of supplicating the amiable chauffeur. "Mr. Cannon, I particularly want a few words with you."
"But, father, I must come in!" said Lois. "I must——"
"You will go home immediately. Please, please do not add to my difficulties. I shall come home myself as quickly as possible. You can do nothing here. The seals have been affixed."
Lois raised her chin in silence.
Then Mr. Ingram turned to the police-agent, spoke to him in French, and pointed to the car persuasively; and the police-agent permissively nodded. The chauffeur, with an affectation of detachment worthy of the greatest days of valetry, drove off, leaving George behind. Mr. Ingram descended the steps.
"I think, perhaps, we might go to a café," said he in a tone which dispersed George's fear of a discussion as to the propriety of the unchaperoned visit to the races.
They sat down on the terrasse of a large café near the Place des Ternes, a few hundred yards away from the Avenue Hoche. The café was nearly empty, citizens being either in the Bois or on the main boulevards. Mr. Ingram sadly ordered bocks. The waiter, flapping his long apron, called out in a loud voice as he went within: " Deux blonds, deux. " George supplied cigarettes.