“If there is anything I can do,” he said softly.  “Monsieur has already, without doubt, selected his rooms.  It will give us great pleasure to see him in the cafe this evening.”

Bartot commenced to talk, but his voice was almost inaudible, it was so thick with passion.

“I come to know what it means!  It is not for pleasure that I come to this villainous country!  I come to know what the game is!  I will be told!  Mademoiselle here—­she tells me that her uncle has been lost, and now that he is ill.  She will not let me see him!”

Louis shrugged his shoulders.

“Alas!” he said.  “That, I know, is quite impossible.  Monsieur Delora was taken ill on the voyage over.  This gentleman,” he added, turning to me, “will bear me out when I say this.  He is now in bed, and a doctor is with him.  I am sorry, but it would not be possible to have him disturbed.”

“Then I wait!” Bartot declared, folding his arms.  “I wait till monsieur recovers!”

“Why not?” Louis asked.  “It is what we most desire.  We will do our best to make monsieur comfortable here.”

I felt Felicia’s fingers press my arm.  I glanced towards her, and she made a motion toward the door.  We moved off, unnoticed, and I rang the bell for the lift.

“Oh!  Capitaine Rotherby,” she exclaimed, “once more you have come to my help!  I was so frightened at that man!  He did speak to me so angrily, and he did not believe anything I told him.  Indeed, it is true that my uncle is ill.  You do not disbelieve that, do you, Capitaine Rotherby?”

The lift arrived a little opportunely for me.  Then it stopped at the fifth floor.

“We must walk softly,” she said.  “My uncle is asleep, and the doctor says that he must not be wakened.”

“You are going to have dinner with me?” I asked.

“I think so,” she answered.  “Yes, I think so!  Let us go somewhere a long way off.  Take me somewhere quiet, Capitaine Rotherby, where I shall not see any one I know.”

“I will,” I promised her.  “Put on a high-necked gown and a hat.  I will take you where there is plenty of music but few people.  We will get a quiet table and talk.  Indeed,” I continued, “there are several things which I want to say to you, Miss Delora.”

“And I,” she murmured.  “It will be delightful.  But step gently, monsieur.  He must not be awakened.”

She pointed to that closed door, and I looked steadfastly into her eyes.  It was not possible that she was acting.  I was convinced that she believed that her uncle was really in the next room.

“I call for you here,” I whispered, “at half-past seven.”

“I shall be ready,” she answered, “quite ready.  You must not be late or I shall be impatient.  Oh!” she added, with a little impulsive gesture, “I am beginning to hate this place.  I begin to long to escape from it forever.  I look forward so much to going away,—­the further the better, Capitaine Rotherby!  I shall be ready when you come.  Good-bye!”