Page:Gaston Leroux--The bride of the sun.djvu/212

198 unwilling to trust anybody or anything, bought a car for himself at a fabulous price. He was also moved by the thought that it might prove useful later on.

Just as they were leaving the station road in their motor, they met Uncle Francis, cool, unperturbed, and fresh as a daisy. An avalanche of questions did not ruffle his calm.

"Well, I lost you at Arequipa and did not know what to do. Then I said to myself; 'They are sure to be somewhere near the Red Ponchos.' We are following them, are we not? So when I saw one, I stuck to him like a leech. I followed him to a little house near the river, which was guarded by soldiers! That, said I to myself, must be where those dear children are being kept prisoners. You did not appear, and I thought you had gone ahead. Everybody knows where these ceremonies take place, I suppose. But I did not, so I stuck to my Red Poncho. When they went to the station, I followed. Somebody told me it was a special train and I couldn't get in, but I gave the guard two soles and slept in his van. When we arrived, I couldn't see you anywhere. I went on to Cuzco, but you were not there either. So I came back to meet this morning's train. And here I am!"

Uncle Francis does not realize to this day