“Hello. The Prefecture of Police, please.… Is that the Prefecture?… Put me on to Monsieur Philippe?… Is that you Philippe?… What? [[223]]The mistake has already been discovered.… Yes: I know about it—and more.… Listen.… Bring two police cyclists with you—big ones—with you quickly—here—to Bregeac’s. You understand? There’s not a moment to lose!”
He put back the receiver and said to Ralph: “You revealed yourself a trifle too soon, my young friend,” he said, jeering in his turn. “The attack has failed—and you know the counter-attack. On the landing Labonce and Tony. Here Marescal and Bregeac, for he has nothing to gain by backing you up. That’s the first line, if the fancy takes you to save Aurelie. And in another twenty minutes three specialists from Headquarters. Is that enough for you?”
Ralph was absorbed in sticking matches into a groove in the table. He stuck in seven one after another close together and one, by itself, at a little distance from them.
“Seven to one,” he said. “The odds are a trifle short. What you really want is—may I?”
With a timid air he stretched out his hand towards the receiver.
Marescal let him take it up, but watched him closely.
“Hello!” said Ralph. “… Elysées 2233, please.… Hello. Is that the President of the Republic?… Please, Monsieur le President, send at once to Monsieur Marescal a battalion of Horse Marines.” [[224]]
Furious, Marescal snatched the receiver out of his hand.
“Stop fooling!” he cried. “I suppose you haven’t come here just to play the joker. What is your object?”
Ralph looked uncommonly disappointed. “So you’ve no sense of humor, have you?” he said mournfully. “But there’s always time for a little joke.”