The chauffeur was busied with his car fiddling with the machinery. He shot a question at Fandor:
"It is Verdun, then, we can see over there?"
"That is not a belfry: it is a chimney, the bakehouse chimney."
"It is not finished, but it soon will be--in a matter of six months."...
"Ah! Good!... Now tell me is there no railway along the route we are following?"
"No. They intend laying down a line for strategic purposes, but they have not started on it yet."
The chauffeur smiled approval, while continuing to tinker at his machine.
"Ah, these projects!" he remarked. "They are long in coming to anything--these French administrative projects!"
Fandor thought: "This grows interesting: it is quite on the cards that this tourist may be."...
"Ouf!" exclaimed the chauffeur, suddenly jumping up. "A stiff job this, Corporal! Will you be good enough to lend me a hand again?"
"Oh, not just at once!... Let me rest a few moments! Doubled up as I have been, my back feels positively broken."
The stranger took a few steps along the road. He pointed to the horizon.
"One has a pretty view here!... You know this part of the country, Corporal?"
"Ah! Then you can give me some information!... What is that other big chimney down there?... Do you see it?... Between those trees! Those two trees--there!"
"Ah, yes, I have heard that foundry mentioned, it is true.... It seems to be quite near!"
"It seems to be--but, by the road, it is a good eleven kilometres away."
"As much as that? As the crow flies it is close to."
"But, how far do you think it is, Corporal, from here to it, in a straight line?... They ought to teach you to measure distances in your regiment!"
Fandor was no longer in doubt: this man was the spy he was out to meet! Fandor once again recalled Vinson's words: "When one has to do with a fresh spy chief, it is a certain thing that he will make you pass a little kind of examination ... will put you through a regular cross-examination to ascertain your capacities--what you are made of!"
Corporal Fandor-Vinson replied instantly:
"As the crow flies, I calculate it is not more than four kilometres. The road winds a great deal."
"Good! Good!" cried the chauffeur. "I should have said so, also."
It seemed to Fandor that the man in the costly fur coat hesitated, was on the point of asking a question, thought better of it, turned away, went back to his car. He called out: