"Look here," said Lupin, "what's the meaning of this joke? I thought I was free!"
"Yes, yes," growled the German, in his rough voice, "you are free . . . free to travel with the five of us . . . if that suits you."
Lupin looked at him, for a second, with a mad longing to hit him on the nose, just to teach him. But the five men looked devilish determined. Their leader did not betray any exaggerated fondness for him; and it seemed to him that the fellow would be only too pleased to resort to extreme measures. Besides, after all, what did he care?
He chuckled:
"If it suits me? Why, it's the dream of my life!"
A powerful covered car was waiting in the paved yard outside the villa. Two men got into the driver's seat, two others inside, with their backs to the motor. Lupin and the stranger sat down on the front seat.
"Vorwarts!" cried Lupin, in German. "Vorwarts nach Veldenz!"
The stranger said:
"Silence! Those men must know nothing. Speak French. They don't know French. But why speak at all?"
"Quite right," said Lupin to himself. "Why speak at all?"