you, and richly deserved."

Fandor did not awaken the chauffeur. He went into the yard: there he
encountered the hotel-keeper. A brazen lie was the safe way, he
decided.

"We have passed a very good night," declared he. "My companions are
getting ready.... I am going to see if the car is in order for our
start."

To himself Fandor added: "As my little priest's window looks in the
opposite direction he cannot see what I am up to."

Fandor was an expert chauffeur. The car was fully supplied with petrol
and water--was in admirable order. The hotel-keeper was watching him.

"If they ask for me," said Fandor-Vinson, "tell them I have gone for a
test run, and will be back in three minutes."

With that he jumped into his seat, set the car in motion, passed
beneath the archway and on to the high road. He turned in the
direction of Barentin.

Fandor felt the charm of this early drive through the pastoral lands
of Normandy. Hope rose in him: was he not escaping from the terrifying
consequences of his Vinson masquerade!

"Evidently," thought he, "I must definitely abandon the role of
soldier: the risks are too great: if the military authorities laid me
by the heels, it would be all up with Fandor-Vinson!... The real
Vinson is certainly in foreign parts by now, and safe from arrest....
I know by sight the head spies at Verdun, the Norbet brothers: the
elegant tourist and his car, and that false priest!... I can continue
my investigations better in my own shoes, and I can get Juve to help
me!"

His thoughts dwelt on the mysterious abbe.

"I would give a jolly lot to know who this pretended abbe really is!"

He tore through the village of Barentin at racing speed.

A covered cart full of peasants stopped the way. Fandor drew up. He
addressed the driver:

"Monsieur, I have rather lost my bearings: will you kindly tell me in
which direction the nearest railway station lies?"

The driver, who was the mail carrier for Maronne, answered civilly:

"You must go to Motteville, Corporal. At the first cross-roads you
come to, turn to the right--keep straight on--that will bring you to
the station."

Corporal Fandor-Vinson thanked the man, and started off in the
direction indicated.

"All I have to do now," thought he, "is to discover some nice, lonely
spot for."...

Shortly after this he sighted a grove with a thick undergrowth. It
bordered the road. Fandor rushed his machine into a field, and brought
it to a stand-sti