“You have discussed the matter with her?” Something odd in Maynard’s tone caused the Frenchman to glance at him quickly, but his face was expressionless.
“But yes, she is Evelyn’s best friend,” La Montagne answered simply. “She has been most kind in aiding me to set straight certain misunderstandings with Evelyn. She has a most sympathetic nature. You like her, n’est ce pas?”
“Yes, oh, yes.” Maynard drew out his cigarette case and offered it to his companion. “Have one?”
There was silence as the Frenchman busied himself in striking a match which he first held against Maynard’s cigarette before lighting his own.
“She is very beautiful, that Madame Van Ness,” pursued La Montagne. “Is she a divorcée or a widow?”
Maynard, gazing into the street, saw that their chauffeur was passing the Potomac Garage instead of stopping and tapped upon the plate glass partition and signed to the chauffeur to pull up at the curb.
“What did you say, René?” he asked.
“Is Madame Van Ness a divorcée or a widow?”
“There is no Mr. Van Ness—here we are; come on,” and opening the door he sprang to the sidewalk, followed by the Frenchman. A man, evidently the foreman from his manner and dress, sauntered up and Maynard spoke to him.
“Is there a chauffeur named Sam employed here? He drives frequently for Mr. James Palmer,” he added by way of explanation, as he saw the foreman looked dubious.