"I—that is——" he stammered, despite his stern effort to appear confident and at his ease.
"You have disobeyed the Minister's orders," interposed the secret agent quietly. "But there is no time now to discuss your conduct. The blunder which you have just committed is mayhap beyond repair; in which case——"
He broke off abruptly and M. Lefèvre felt a cold shiver running down his spine.
"There was no time to consult you——" he began.
"I said that I would not discuss that," interposed the Man in Grey quietly. "Tell me where you have been."
"To Chéron's farm on the Chartres road," replied the commissary sullenly.
"The informer gave you directions?"
"Yes."
"That you would find his leader there?"
"Yes, the man whom they call 'the Spaniard,' and some of his accomplices. The informer——"