"Well," he said, "how did you sleep after that villainous business of last night?"
"Thanks, I slept," replied Halkett, rousing himself.
They went into the arbor together, and presently Linette came out of the house carrying their coffee.
"Where is your little friend Philippa?" inquired the Englishman with an effort.
"In bed, I fancy. Linette has just taken up her café-au-lait. I think the child is feeling the reaction."
"Yes. But what on earth am I going to do with her, Halkett? Ought I to wait until that old scoundrel Wildresse comes here or telephones? Ought I to try to persuade her to go back to that cabaret? Ought I to telephone that she is safe here?"
"I know. Somebody will fix them, though. Do you think I’d better try to persuade Philippa to let me drive her over to Ausone in the trap? If I’m to keep her, I ought to have an interview with Wildresse, or she and I will get into trouble."
"Oh, Lord!" said Halkett. "That’s your affair. Listen, Warner, I’m so worried about Gray I can’t think of anything else. Something serious certainly has happened to him. And until those wires are repaired, I shan’t know what to do. Is there any other way we can communicate with Ausone?"
"None that I know of, unless somebody goes over to Ausone. I can do that if you like. I can drive over in the trap. Of course the telephone people already know that there’s a break on the line, and no doubt they’re out now looking for it. We’ll be in communication with Ausone by noon, I expect."
For a little while they exchanged views concerning the attack of the previous night, and Halkett was of the opinion that the order for mobilization would now restrain any further violence on the part of those who had been following him, if, indeed, it did not entirely clear them out of France. And he expressed a desire for the envelope.
So Warner went into the house, lifted the partly hardened skin of white lead from the canvas, disinterred the envelope, wiped it clean, and brought it out to Halkett. The Englishman put it into his breast pocket.
"It was perfectly safe where it was," remarked the other. "It’s an invitation to murder where it is now."
"Yes, but it’s no good to anybody unless Gray turns up. I wish I knew what had become of that man. I think I’ll try the telephone again——"