Quickly running over the leaves Jimmie soon found what he sought. Drawing from his pocket the message he fitted it to the stub of a torn page. Flushing with hardly suppressed excitement, he turned to Francois:
"So that's the kind of a Boy Scout you are, eh? In league with The Rat, are you? Well, all I've got to say is that you're in mighty poor business! It's a funny thing you should happen to leave this note and then happen to drop in here just at this time! Can you explain it?"
Jimmie's disgust was apparent to all. His rather uncertain temper was rapidly getting the better of him as he considered what seemed to be evidence of the guilt of their newly made acquaintance.
Touching Jimmie on the arm as a warning of caution, Ned said:
"Your handwriting is remarkably like the signature of this message. Perhaps you may be able to tell us something about it."
"Yes," laughed Francois with ease. "I didn't have time to do more than leave that message and the 'signs in stones.' In fact, I had barely time to do that! I felt sure you would understand!"
"We interpreted the message correctly, I believe," answered Ned, "but we attributed the authorship to another person. You were a stranger to us when we found the message and we believed it was written by another."
"I see now the mistake I made," ventured Francois soberly. "If I had it to do over again I should take a different course. But my time was limited and I did the best I could under the circumstances."
"Did you pile up those stones?" asked Jimmie, still ruffled.
"Yes," was the frank admission. "I tried my best to warn you not to come to Paris. I knew the dangers in store for you!"