The AvengerOppenheim, E. Phillips (Edward Phillips)
General
The Avenger
Oppenheim, E. Phillips (Edward Phillips)
Mystery fiction
"We have heard of him," Louise murmured. "It certainly appears as though
he were only an ordinary tourist. Has any one else arrived?"
"Yes!" Wrayson answered, "some one else has arrived, and I want to tell
you about him."
Louise was obviously disturbed. She refused a course a little
impatiently, and turned towards Wrayson anxiously.
"But the landlord," she said in a low tone, "has orders to receive no
more guests."
"This man arrived to luncheon to-day," Wrayson answered. "The landlord
could not refuse him that. He wished for a room and was told that he
could not be taken in."
"Well, who is he, what is he like?" she demanded.
"He is a miserable sort of bounder--an imitation cockney tourist, with
ready-made English clothes, a knapsack, and a camera. I should have felt
suspicious about him myself, but the other fellow whom I told you about,
who is staying at the inn, recognized him. He had seen him abroad, and
what he told me seems decisive. I am afraid that he is a spy."
Wrayson cursed himself for a moment that he had been so outspoken, for
the girl by his side seemed almost on the point of collapse. Her eyes
were full of fear, and she clutched at the tablecloth as though overcome
with a spasm of terror.
"Don't be alarmed," Wrayson whispered in her ear. "I am sure, I am quite
sure that he is not here for what you may fear. I don't believe he is an
Englishman at all."
The girl recovered herself amazingly.
"I was not thinking of myself," she said quietly; and Wrayson noticed
that her eyes were fixed upon the pale, distinguished face of the woman
who sat with a certain air of isolation at the head of the table.
CHAPTER XXVII
THE SPY
Wrayson found himself a few minutes later alone with the Baron, who, with
some solemnity, rose and took the chair opposite to him. Conversation
between them, however, languished, for the Baron spoke only in
monosyllables, and his attitude gave Wrayson the idea that he viewed his
presence at the chateâu with disfavour. With stiff punctiliousness, he
begged Wrayson to try some wonderful Burgundy, and passed a box of
cigarettes. He did not, however, open any topic of conversation, and
Wrayson, embarrassed in his choice of subjects by the fact that any
remark he could make might sound like an attempt at gratifying his
curiosity, remained also silent. In a very few minutes the Baron rose.
"You will take another glass of wine, sir?" he asked.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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