“Let the whole affair slide for some time. It is too premature to do anything yet.”
“In other words, you are shelving it?”
“Yes, I am shelving it provisionally.”
“Then you abandon the whole affair?”
The magistrate looked gravely at Vallenot and, to the profound amazement of his clerk, said humbly—
“I do, if no fresh incident happens.”
“Have I to inform the Minister of this?”
“Please do so. Tell him I am sorry, and wish I could have done better. That has been impossible. Still all is not lost, in my opinion. We shall see at a later date.”
The Colonel stood there rather disconcerted by this unexpected solution, and as he took his leave he shook his head, saying—
“A pleasant message you send me with. I shall be received like a dog in a game of skittles.”