ainly a very
merry one. Yet it puzzled me to discover in what direction Bindo's
active brain was working, and what were his designs.

The only facts that were apparent were that first he was ingratiating
himself further with Mademoiselle,--who regarded him with undisguised
love-looks,--and secondly that, for some purpose known only to himself,
he was gaining time.

The solution of the puzzle, however, came suddenly and without warning.

Bindo had been back in Monty a week, and one evening I had seen him with
"The President," leaning over the balustrade of the terrace before the
Casino, with their faces turned to the moonlit sea and the gaily-lit
rock of Monaco.

They were in deep, earnest conversation; therefore I turned back and
left them. It would not do, I knew, if Bindo discovered me in the
vicinity.

In crossing the Place I came face to face with the long-nosed stranger
whom I suspected as a police-agent, but he seemed in a hurry, and I do
not think he noticed me.

Next day I saw nothing of Bindo, who, strangely enough, did not sleep
at the Paris. We did not meet till about eight o'clock at night, when I
caught sight of him ascending the stairs to go and dress for dinner.

"Ewart!" he called to me, "come up to my room. I want you."

I went up after him, and followed him into his room. When the door had
closed, he turned quickly to me and asked--

"Is the car ready for a long run?"

"Quite," I replied.

"Is it at the same garage?"

"Yes."

"Then give me the key. I want to go round there this evening."

I was surprised, but nevertheless took the key from my pocket and handed
it to him.

"Are you going to drive her away?" I inquired.

"Don't ask questions," he snapped. "I don't know yet what I'm going to
do, except that I want you to go over to Nice and spend the evening. Go
to the Casino, and watch to see if Raoul is there. Be back here by the
twelve-twenty-five, and come up and report to me."

I went to my own room, dressed, and then took train to Nice. But though
I lounged about the Casino Municipal all that evening, I saw nothing of
either Regnier or Raoul. It struck me, however, that Bindo had sent me
over to Nice in order to get rid of me, and this surmise was somewhat
confirmed when I returned after midnight.

Bindo did not question me about the person he had sent me to watch for.
He merely said--

"Ewart, you and I have a long run before us to-morrow. We must be away
at seven. The qui