She certainly had not
reached Brieg, for with my ally l'Echelle we searched the town for
news of her that night and again next morning.
The situation was embarrassing. I could decide upon no clear course
but that of holding on to Falfani and clinging to him with the very
skin of my teeth; any light must come from or through him, or at least
by keeping him in full view I might prevent him from doing any more
mischief.
One of us, l'Echelle or myself, continually watched him all that day,
the third of this curious imbroglio into which I was plunged. At night
I took the strong and unjustifiable measure of locking him into his
room.
When he discovered it next morning he was furious, and came straight
at me open-mouthed.
"I'll appeal to the law, I'll denounce you to the authorities, I'll
charge you with persecution and with false imprisonment. You shall be
arrested. I'll be rid of you somehow, you shall not stay here, you
shall leave Brieg."
"With all my heart--when you do. Have I not told you that already?
Where you go I go, where you stay I stay."
"But it is most monstrous and abominable.
Pages:
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129