"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."
I heard her rather impatient reply, and then, a few moments later, she descended the stairs and entered the room where the gang had been discussing me.
Some quick words in French were exchanged. Then I heard her cry--
"No, You shall not!" she declared in a loud, defiant voice. "If you do, then the police shall know!"
"Oh!" exclaimed old Gregory, whose voice I recognized. "Then you object, Mademoiselle, eh?"
"Yes. I do object, M'sieu'!" she cried. "If any attempt is made against him, then I shall myself inform the police. Remember, M'sieu' Vidal is my friend."
"Your lover, perhaps," sneered the old man.
"No," she cried in loud, angry protest. "He is not my lover! Would he love a girl like myself--a girl who has been brought by you, and your friends, to what I am?"
"Well, you are a very pretty girl, and sometimes uncommonly useful to your uncle," replied old Gregory tauntingly.
"Of use to you!" she cried. "Yes, I know I am! And when you have no further use for me, then--then--an accident will happen to me, and I shall trouble you no further--an accident like that which you intend shall befall Mr. Vidal!"
I crouched against the window, my ears glued to the glass. I tried to picture to myself the scene within--how the young girl I had befriended in such curious circumstances was standing before them, defying them to make any attempt to put me out of action.
"You speak like a little fool, Lola," old Gregory declared. "You lead the life of a lady of means. You travel with a maid, and all you have to do is to be pleasant to people, and keep your eyes and ears open. For that you receive very handsome rewards, and----"
"And you make a million francs a year, M'sieur Gregory," she interrupted. "Ah! when the police trace these marvellous plots to their source, they will be surprised. One day the papers will be full of you and your wicked doings--mark me!"