Barres, astonished, stood quite still. The young man continued to regard him with a very intelligent and slightly ironical expression:
“I do not know, of course,” he said, “whether you are of the city police, the State service, the Post Office, the Department of Justice, the Federal Secret Service”—he shrugged expressive shoulders—“but this I do know very well, that through lack of proper coordination in the branches of all your departments of City, State, and Federal surety, there is much bungling, much working at cross purposes, much interference, and many blunders.
“Therefore, I beg of you not to do anything further in the matter which very evidently occupies you.” And he bowed and glanced across at the saloon into which Soane and Freund had disappeared.
Barres was thinking hard. He drew out his cigarette case, lighted a cigarette, came to his conclusions:
“You are watching Freund and Soane?” he asked bluntly.
“And you, sir? Are you observing the stars?” inquired the young man, evidently amused at something or other unperceived by Barres.
The latter said, frankly and pleasantly:
“I am following those two men. It is evident that you are, also. So may I ask, have you any idea where they are going?”
“I can guess, perhaps.”