“And I say, ‘Ze Colonel, he must need me.’”
“Horrible carelessness, anyhow,” said Bates. “I’d give him a piece of my mind. But, if you please, sir, don’t you think there’s some one hiding inside that house-boat? You heard a noise yourself. What’s that over there?”
Norman Redfern was holding up a small object which emitted several plaintive squeaks and tried to wriggle out of his grasp.
“The pup was on the table, and knocked off a couple of pieces of wood,” he explained.
“Oh!” exclaimed Bates, sadly disappointed.
“Go right back, Pierre,” commanded Colonel Ellison, with a frown. “Such a valuable machine should never be left for an instant.”
“Of course it shouldn’t,” remarked Bates.
“Very good, monsieur the Colonel; I go,” said Pierre, bowing. “Ah, but I had fear! Ma foi, but I no understand why you——”
“That will do, Pierre—go!” thundered Colonel Ellison; and the chauffeur turned away sadly puzzled.
“When George returns,” remarked the Colonel, grimly, “he will find me here.”