"I always pay my debts," she answered, trying not to giggle, "and I only agreed to tell you the reason why Miss Yvonne came up in the auto. I've done that. But since you're so hard up for information, I'll hand out a little more small change--just because I'm sorry for you. It was a man, a very old man, all wrapped up in a big fur coat." "Did Louis know he was coming?" Carol demanded. "Oh, no! Louis didn't know," answered the Imp, "but I did; for I heard Miss Yvonne telling old Mr. Meadows yesterday, when they were out by the barn, that all was ready for 'Monsieur's' arrival to-morrow." "You're a mean little thing to be always eavesdropping about," cried Sue, "and meaner yet never to tell us a word of what you hear." "You're quite mistaken if you think I eavesdrop, as you call it," retorted the Imp indignantly. "I was in plain sight all the time yesterday, patching up that snow-fort of Louis's, and they both saw me. Only Miss Yvonne spoke in French, and I guess she doesn't know that I understand it. As for not telling you two anything, I'd like to know why I should. You never tell anything to me, that is, if you can possibly help it." This was entirely true, as they were bound to confess. The Imp took up her book and marched huffily to the door. But before she left the room she turned and called back: "It's a thankless job trying to be nice to you two. You're absolutely ungrateful. And I'll tell you right now, I know one piece of information, besides all this, that you'd give your eye-teeth to hear,--but you won't. It's about who this mysterious 'monsieur' _is_!" With that she went out, slamming the door behind her. CHAPTER IV THE MYSTERIOUS "MONSIEUR" There had been a heavy fall of snow during the night. It lay on trees and hedges in great, powdery clumps, and drifted over the Green in huge, wind-swept hillocks. But the sky that afternoon was blue and cloudless, and the click of snow-shovels rang out on the still air. In front of the Birdseys' gate Carol and Sue were frantically shoveling a footway, not because they had to, but for the sheer joy of exercise in the invigorating air. "It's queer we haven't seen anything of Louis since that visitor came," commented Carol. "He's missing a lot of time at school, and I'm sure he hates that." "Yes, it's three days since 'Monsieur,' as the Imp calls him, came. We haven't seen anything of _him_, either," added Sue. "Do you suppose he's going to stay shut up and invisible all the time? Who do you suppose he is, anyway, and doesn't it make you furious to think that the Imp knows, or says she does, and that we don't?" "There's Louis now," was Carol's only reply. "He's just come out to shovel his walk," and she waved her own shovel to him in greeting. In another moment Louis had strolled over to join them. He was of medium height, a slenderly-built fellow, with short-cropped, wavy, chestnut hair and fine brown eyes. He also possessed a smile that was peculiarly winning.