“Possibly a few weeks. Our information is that your acquaintance with her is not of long duration.”
“Wrong, my friend: I met her in France several years ago; I know her intimately.”
“Yes, the intimacy has been reported,” said Renoux, blandly. “But it doesn’t take long, sometimes.”
Barres reddened again and shook his head:
“You and your agents are all wrong, Renoux. So is your Government. Do you know what it’s doing—what you and your agents are doing? You’re playing a German game for Berlin!”
This time Renoux flushed and there was a slight quiver to his lips and nostrils; but he said very pleasantly:
“That would be rather mortifying, mon ami, if it were true.”
“It is true. Berlin, the traitor in Paris, the conspirator in America, the German, Austrian, and Turkish diplomatic agents here ask nothing better than that you manage, somehow, to eliminate the person in question.”
“Why?” demanded Renoux.