Presently the voices of the men were again raised in dissension. Gregory had apparently made some statement from which the others—how many there were, I knew not—dissented. They spoke rapidly in French, and I could hear one man's mouth full of execrations, a hard, hoarse voice of one of the lower class.
Then I distinctly heard some one say in English—
"I don't believe it! He knows nothing. Why take such a step against an innocent man?"
"Because, I tell you, he knows too much!" declared Gregory, now speaking loudly in English. "He was at Cromer, and discovered everything. Ah! you don't know how shrewd and painstaking he is. Read his books and you will see. He is the greatest danger confronting you to-day, my friends."
I held my breath. They were discussing me!
"I object," exclaimed the man who had first spoken in English. "He has no evil intentions against us."
"But he knows the Nightingale, and through her has learnt much," Gregory replied promptly.
"What?" gasped the unseen speaker. "Has she told him anything? Has the girl betrayed us?"
"Ask her," the old man urged. "She's upstairs. Call her."