Part 25 (1/2)
”They left no traces?”
”No traces of footsteps, true. The rain has messed everything up. But they went through the yard, because the stretcher's there.”
”You'll find him, Mr. Inspector, there's no doubt of that. In any case, you may be sure that you won't have any trouble over the affair. I shall be in Paris this evening and shall go straight to the prefecture, where I have influential friends.”
Renine went back to the two women in the coffee-room and Hortense at once said:
”It was you who carried him off, wasn't it? Please put Rose Andree's mind at rest. She is so terrified!”
He gave Rose Andree his arm and led her to the car. She was staggering and very pale; and she said, in a faint voice:
”Are we going? And he: is he safe? Won't they catch him again?”
Looking deep into her eyes, he said:
”Swear to me, Rose Andree, that in two months, when he is well and when I have proved his innocence, swear that you will go away with him to America.”
”I swear.”
”And that, once there, you will marry him.”
”I swear.”
He spoke a few words in her ear.
”Ah!” she said. ”May Heaven bless you for it!”
Hortense took her seat in front, with Renine, who sat at the wheel. The inspector, hat in hand, fussed around the car until it moved off.
They drove through the forest, crossed the Seine at La Mailleraie and struck into the Havre-Rouen road.
”Take off your glove and give me your hand to kiss,” Renine ordered. ”You promised that you would.”
”Oh!” said Hortense. ”But it was to be when Dalbreque was saved.”
”He is saved.”
”Not yet. The police are after him. They may catch him again. He will not be really saved until he is with Rose Andree.”
”He is with Rose Andree,” he declared.
”What do you mean?”
”Turn round.”
She did so.
In the shadow of the hood, right at the back, behind the chauffeur, Rose Andree was kneeling beside a man lying on the seat.