“What did you find?”

“Near the cathedral I saw footprints which the falling snow had covered but partially.  No, it’s not worth while to go back and investigate them.  They’re under an inch of snow now.”

“Why did you think Germans had made them?”

Weber opened his gloved hand and disclosed something metallic, a spike from a German helmet.

“This,” he said, “had become loosened and it fell from the cap of some careless fellow.  It could have been there only a few minutes, because the snow had not yet covered it.  I think a considerable party has got behind the French lines under cover of the storm and has passed through Chastel.”

“But they must have gone on.  Why would they remain in a ruined town like this?”

“I see no reason for their doing so, unless to seek shelter for a while in some buildings not wholly wrecked, just as you and Mademoiselle Lannes’ party have done.”

John felt a throb of alarm.

“Has the Hotel de l’Europe escaped their observation?” he asked.

“I think so.  I did not notice any light myself when I approached it.  But I had been in Chastel before, and of course knew of the house and its location.  I went there at once, hoping that it had escaped destruction, and found my hopes justified.  Has Mademoiselle Lannes heard anything from her brother?  I did not see his name on the register?”

“He has not come, but the weather has made it impossible.  Aeroplanes can’t dare such snowstorms as this.”

“That’s true, but he’s so wonderfully skillful and bold that he might get here in some fashion.  Now I think we ought to make a good search among these ruins, Mr. Scott.  It’s more than likely that the Germans have passed on, but there’s a chance that they will linger.  You’re armed, of course?”

“I’ve an automatic handy.”

“So have I. Suppose we take a look in the wood here, and then we can search among those houses on our right.”

The snow and the night, now at hand, biding them, they entered the little wood with confidence that they would fall into no trap.  But it was empty, and returning to the edge of the town, they scouted cautiously all the way around it, finding no sign of either a friend or an enemy.

“We alone hold Chastel,” said John, “and I think we’d better go back to the Hotel de l’Europe.  I’ve been away a full two hours and Mademoiselle Lannes may be worried about my long absence, not about me personally, but because of what it might possibly signify.”

“That’s our obvious course,” said Weber, “and as I’ve registered I’ll sleep at the hotel also.”

“You’ll certainly be welcome,” said John, as he led the way back to the Hotel de l’Europe.  But as they were on the far side of the town, and the snow had grown deeper, it took them another half-hour to reach the building.

They stood just inside the door, brushing off the snow and shaking themselves.  John glanced toward the door of the smoking-room but it was dark there.  He was somewhat surprised.  Julie had doubtless gone to bed, but Antoine, the grim and faithful, would be on watch.