“You overheard their talk?”
“Ay! they made no secret of it; but I am convinced La Barre has more definite instructions to give in private, for he asked the Commissaire to come to him later for conference. I felt that you should be told, Monsieur.”
De Artigny leaned motionless against the window ledge, and the light streaming in through the opening of the draperies revealed the gravity of his expression. For the moment he remained silent, turning the affair over in his mind.
“I thank you, Mademoiselle,” he said finally, and touched my hand, “for your report gives me one more link to my chain. I have picked up several in the past few hours, and all seem to lead back to the manipulations of Cassion. Faith! there is some mystery here, for surely the man seemed happy enough when first we met at Chevet’s house, and accepted my offer gladly. Have you any theory as to this change in his front?”
I felt the blood surge to my cheeks, and my eyes fell before the intensity of his glance.
“If I have, Monsieur, ’tis no need that it be mentioned.”
“Your pardon, Mademoiselle, but your words already answer me––’tis then that I have shown interest in you; the dog is jealous!”
“Monsieur!”
He laughed, and I felt the tightening of his hand on mine.