eur le Comte_," said Herbert, stepping into the room.

"Ah, Herbert," said Berry airily, "we meet again." He nodded at the
official. "Just tell this gentleman about this morning, will you? He
would, I think, be interested."

To say that Herbert came up to the scratch is to do scant justice to
the testimony which he gave and to the manner in which he gave it. He
swore to Berry: he swore to me: and in all honesty he swore to the car.
For this, since Ping and Pong were duplicates, he may be forgiven. He
described the morning's incident with a wealth of picturesque detail
and an abundance of vivid imagery, while an astute cross-examination
only served to adorn the sincerity of his tale.

Finally, in response to his entreaties, police and all, we followed him
into the street, where, displaying a histrionic ability which was truly
French, he proceeded to reconstruct and rehearse his great adventure
with the enthusiasm of a zealot.

Watch in hand, Berry touched the chief of the police upon the shoulder.

"By now," he said, "I think my cousin may have reached Pau. If you
would like to telephone...."

He stopped suddenly to peer right and left into the darkness.

The gentry had disappeared.

* * * * *

Ten minutes later, with a _gendarme_ on either step, we picked up an
anxious Adele. Then we filled up with petrol, had my makeshift
connection replaced by a new wire, and started for home.

As we passed the scene of our meeting with Herbert--

"Which goes to prove," said my brother-in-law, "the wisdom of catching
at straws. I noticed his likeness to Herbert the moment we entered the
room, and, for what it was worth, I kept my eye on him. Then a
_gendarme_ came in and whispered. I caught the words '_votre frere_.'
Laffargue shrugged his shoulders and glanced at the clock. It looked
as if his brother was waiting for him to come off duty. I began to
wonder whether the two were going to blow my ten francs. During one of
the arguments I shot my bolt. I asked him to tell his twin-brother
that the Count Blowfly was here and would be glad if he'd wait. He
stared rather, but, after a little hesitation, he slipped out of the
room. I think my heart stopped beating until he returned. When he
looked at me and nodded, I could have screamed with delight...."

For a kilometre or so we sat in silence.

Then--

"It reminds me of poker on board ship," said I. "Our friend of the
square jaw