"Hardly!" she laughed scornfully. "But Henriette—what is to become of her?"
"That shall be my affair.
It is secondary, really.
The first and all-important is for you to secure the little Ralph and escape with him.
It will have to be done under the very eyes of the enemy, for there is every reason to fear they will be going on, too.
The other detective, this Tiler—I have heard them call him by that name—will have told them of her ladyship's movements, and will have summoned them, Falfani at least, to his side."
"If I go on by that early train they will, no doubt, do the same. I must not be seen by them. They would fathom the trick of the two parties and the exchange."
"Yet you must go on by that train. It's the only way."
"Of course I might change my appearance a little, but not enough to deceive them.
Cannot I go across to the station before them and hide in some compartment specially reserved for us?"
"It might be managed.
We might secure the whole of the seats."
"Money is no object."
"It will do most things, especially in Switzerland.
Leave it to me, Lady Claire.
All you have to do is to be ready to-morrow morning, very early, remember.
Before 5 a.m."
"If necessary I'll sit up all night."
"Well, then, that's settled.
I'll knock at your door and see you get some coffee."
"Philpotts shall make it; no one in the hotel must know.
There will be the bill."
"I will see to that.
I'll come back after you're ensconced, with the blinds drawn.
Sick lady on the way, via Culoz to Aix-les-Bains, must not be disturbed.
It won't matter my being seen on the road, all the better really if my lord is there, for I have a little plan of my own, Lady Claire—no, please don't ask me yet—but it will help matters, I think."
"You are, indeed, my true and faithful friend," she said, as she put out her hand and wished me good night.
She left it in mine for just a second, and I flattered myself that its warm pressure was meant to assure me that I had established a substantial claim to her regard.
CHAPTER XVIII.
On leaving Salon No. 17 I descended to the ground floor, seeking the smoking-room and a little stimulant to assist me in deciding the best course of action for the following day.
As I passed along the corridor I caught sight of l'Echelle, whom I considered my man, in close confabulation with Falfani in a quiet corner.
They could hardly have seen me, at least l'Echelle made no reference to the fact when he came to me presently and asked if I had any orders for the morning.
I answered him sternly:
"What was Falfani saying to you just now?
The truth, please, or you get nothing more from me."
"He is a vaurien and faineant, and thinks others as bad as himself; said my lord would give me five hundred francs to know what you were doing, and find out whether the lady who travelled with us to Basle last Sunday is here in this house."
"I've no objection to your taking his money if you will tell me something.
How long does my lord mean to stay here?
Have you any idea?"
"They all go on by the early train to Culoz or farther.
A pressing telegram has come from their man at Amberieu."
"Ah! Indeed.
Then you may say that I am also going by that early train.
They're not going to shake me off very easily.
Tell them that, and that if they want the lady they'd better look for her.
She isn't here."
I lied in a good cause, for a lady, as a gentleman is bound to do. I shall be forgiven, I think, under the circumstances.
The free use of coin had the desired effect at the railway station.
Soon after 5 a.m. I was met at a private door and escorted, with my precious party, by a circuitous route to where the 5.48 was shunted, waiting the moment to run back to the departure platform.
There was a coupe ready for Lady Claire, and she took her place quietly, observed by no one but the obsequious official who had managed it all.