"Very well! And you, Monsieur l'Abbé?... Your friend? Is he with you?"
"He is not, my dear Corporal!"
"Is he at Verdun?"
The abbé's reply was a look of displeasure.
"I do not know where he is," he said sharply, after a pause.... "But that is neither here nor there, Corporal," he went on in a more amiable tone. "We are going to take a little journey together."
This news perturbed Fandor-Vinson: it was not to his liking.
The abbé took him by the arm.
"You will excuse my absence this morning? To keep the appointment was impossible.... Ah! Hand me the promised document, will you?... That is it?... Very good.... Thank you!... By the by, Corporal—there you see our special train." The priest pointed to a superb motor-car drawn up alongside the pavement. A superior-looking chauffeur was seated at the wheel.
"Shall we get in? We have a fairly long way to go, and it is important that we arrive punctually."
Fandor could do nothing but agree. They seated themselves. The abbé shared a heavy travelling rug.