For the space of a second or two Number Ten looked hideous. De Kervoisin, who was watching him, was conscious of an uncomfortable shudder: Naniescu fortunately was looking another way, and the whole episode was over in a moment; the next, Number Ten was once more leaning back in his chair, looking weary, grimy and ill-tempered, but there was nothing supernatural about him, except perhaps his amazing change from one personality to another.
"How did you get back here?" Kervoisin asked after a moment's pause.
"I have a car which our friend, the general, has placed at my disposal, with a soldier-driver. I ordered him to follow me to within half a kilomètre of Kis-Imre."
"I suppose you got to Kis-Imre before anyone was astir?"
"I won't say that. The ladies at the château were astir."
"No. I had reached my own car, and was on the point of driving off when I saw them coming through the gates of the château."
"You would not have liked them to have seen you, I imagine," Naniescu put in with a chuckle.
"They wouldn't have known me," Number Ten retorted quietly.
"Heu! heu!" the general rejoined with a shrug. "There are certain eyes that are reported to be very sharp."
"Anyway," Number Ten broke in coolly, "no one saw me except an oaf from the village, so why discuss the point?"
And strangely enough General Naniescu, usually so dictatorial and so arrogant, did not seem to resent the gruffness of this man who was in his pay. On the contrary, he laughed good-humouredly and rested his fat hand with a gesture of almost affection on the shoulder of the spy.
"Ah, _ces chers Anglais!_" he sighed fatuously, whilst de Kervoisin turned quite politely to Number Ten with the bland question: "And what is your next move, my dear friend?"
"To get those articles out of the fair Uno," Naniescu interposed hurriedly before the other had time to reply. "That point must not be lost sight of."
"I am not likely to lose sight of it," the other riposted dryly, "seeing that I am to get ten thousand pounds sterling for them. I suppose you think they are worth it?" he added, turning with his habitual sneer to Naniescu.
"I think," the general replied slowly, "that with the arrest of Philip Imrey and Anna Heves, which, when it becomes known, will deter other young fools from playing the same game--with that, I say, as a make-weight, I think the articles will be worth the money--to my Government and to me."