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 shortly,” said the old man as soon as they were alone together.

What Forsyth had to tell did not amount to much. As was his custom, he had gone to Beaumanoir’s room as soon as he was dressed, and had found it vacant. As, however, the bed had been slept in, he apprehended nothing wrong, thinking merely that the Duke was smoking an early cigarette on the terrace. Seeing no sign of him there, he extended his search in the grounds, but again with no result. The next step was to question the servants, none of whom had seen their master since the previous day.

The General stroked his chin thoughtfully. “I don’t believe that woman knows anything,” he said at length. “I was watching her when you came in. She seemed to be surprised, and even disconcerted, by your news.”

“Perhaps one of her colleagues has acted independently, or there may be divided counsels in the camp,” Forsyth suggested. “In that case”

“In any case, what we have to do is to find Beaumanoir, dead or alive,” the General interrupted. “See here, Alec, you must get a grip on yourself and go in and eat your breakfast