"I'U tell you the little I know, because I want you
to tell Mrs. Harman what has just happened, and
you'll be able to do it better if you understand what
is understandable about the rest of it."



222 THE GUEST OF QUESNAY

"You mean you wouldn't tell me so that I could
understand for myself?" There was a note of
genuine grieved reproach in her voice. "Ah, then
I've made you think me altogether a hare-
brain!"

"I haven't time to tell you what I think of you,"
I said brusquely, and, strangely enough, it seemed
to please her. But I paid little attention to that,
continuing quickly: "When Professor Keredec and
Mr. Saffren came to Les Trois Pigeons, they were
so careful to keep out of everybody's sight that
one might have suspected that they were in hiding
— and, in fact, I'm sure that they were — though,
as time passed and nothing alarming happened,
they've felt reassured and allowed themselves more
liberty. It struck me that Keredec at first dreaded
that they might be traced to the inn, and I'm
afraid his fear was justified, for one night, before
I came to know them, I met Mr. 'Percy' on the
road; he'd visited Madame Brossard's and pumped
Amed6e dry, but clumsily tried to pretend to me
that he had not been there at all. At the time,
I did not connect him even remotely with Professor
Keredec's anxieties. I imagined he might have an
eye to the spoons; but it's as ridiculous to think



CHAPTER SIXTEEN 223

him a burglar as it would be to take him for a
detective. What he is, or what he has to do with
Mr. Saffren, I can guess no more than I can guess
the cause of Keredec's fears, but the moment I saw
him to-day, saw that he'd come back, I knew it
was thai, and tried to draw him out. You heard
what he said; there's no doubt that Saffren stands
in danger of some kind. It may be inconsiderable,
or even absurd, but it's evidently imminent, and no
matter what it is, Mrs. Harman must be kept
out of it. I want you to see her as soon as you can
and ask her from me — no, persuade her yourself
— ^not to leave Quesnay for a day or two. 