"We are coming to Bonniéres."
"Good!" The abbé sat up, flung his rug aside.
"Do as I do, Corporal. Do not fold up the rug. Throw it over our package. Prying eyes will not suspect its presence."
With the most stupid air in the world, Fandor asked:
"Must it not be seen, then?"
"Of course not! And at Bonniéres we must be on guard: the police there are merciless: they arrest everyone who exceeds the speed limit.... Nor do we wish to arouse their curiosity about us personally. There is a number of troops stationed here: the colonel is notorious for his strictness: he is correctness personified."
Fandor-Vinson stared questionably at the abbé.
"But you do not seem to understand anything, Corporal Vinson!" he cried in an irritated tone. "Whatever I say seems to send you into a state of stupefaction!... I shall never do anything with you, you are hopeless!... Ah, here is Bonniéres! Once outside the town, I will give you some useful explanations."
A bare three minutes after leaving Bonniéres behind, the Abbè turned to Fandor and asked in a low voice:
"What do you think is in that package, Corporal?"