When John had closed the door of the sitting-room and he knew that
neither Julie nor Suzanne could hear him, he said:

"Picard, have you any weapon?"

Picard drew a heavy automatic revolver from the pocket of his jacket.

"Before I started I provided myself with this, knowing the dangers of
the journey," he replied.

"Good, but don't use it, except in the last resort. Remember how near
you came to execution as a _franc-tireur_."

"Does Monsieur apprehend an attack?"

"I scarcely know, Antoine. But things have come about too easily. We
find here a furnished hotel waiting for us. I've no doubt that the
kitchens of the Hôtel de l'Europe are well stocked, and we have all the
comforts, even the luxuries sufficient for a hundred guests. So far as
we know there is not a soul in all this town save our four selves. It
doesn't look natural, my good Antoine. It's positively uncanny."

"But, sir, if what we want is here waiting for us, why shouldn't we take
it?"

"That's true, wise Antoine. 'Take the goods the gods provide thee whilst
the lovely Thaïs sits beside thee,' as Mr. Dryden said."

"Who is Mr. Dryden? Must I infer, sir, from his name, that he is one of
our brave English allies?"