"Why so?"

"Well, M. Lemaire, if you meet that young fellow, and try to draw him
out, you'll understand. He can talk longer, and tell less, than any
young fellow I've met. He seems to guess just what you want to know,
and then he carefully tells you something else."

"Ah, well, out of three young men, we shall find one who will tell us all
we need to know," laughed M. Lemaire, gayly. "So it is only a question
of learning which of the three to make the first attempt upon."

"If you want a suggestion--" began Norton.

"By all means, my dear fellow."

"Then turn your batteries of inquisitiveness loose upon Jack Benson,
first of all. He may be easy game. As for the third, Hal Hastings, I
hear that he is a silent fellow, who says little, and generally waits
five minutes, to think his answer over, before he gives it."

"Benson it shall be, then," nodded M. Lemaire. "I shall find it easy
to meet him. And now, good-bye, Norton, until this evening. You will
know what to do then."

After Norton had gone out, closing the door behind him, M. Lemaire
carefully flecked the ash from his cigarette as he murmured to himself:

"Then it shall be Captain Benson whom we first attack! Nor do I believe
I can do better than to enlist the services of Mademoiselle Sara. Ah,
yes! Her eyes are fine--perfect. One looks into her eyes, and trusts