CHAPTER XXIV--A PARTIAL EXPOSURE

It was when Ruth was going off duty for the day that the matron sent for her to come to the office before going to her own cell, as the tiny immaculate little rooms were called in which the Red Cross workers slept.

Obeying the summons, Ruth crossed the wide entrance hall and saw in the court a high-powered, open touring car in which sat two military-appearing men, although neither was in uniform. In the matron's room was another--a tall, dark young man, who arose from his chair the instant the girl entered the room.

"Monsieur Lafrane, Mademoiselle Fielding," said the matron nervously. "Monsieur Lafrane is connected, he tells me, with the Department of Justice."

"With the secret police, Mademoiselle," the man said significantly. "The prefect of police at Lyse has sent me to you," and he bowed again to Ruth.

The matron was evidently somewhat alarmed as well as surprised, but Ruth's calm manner reassured her to some extent.

"It is all right, Madame," the American girl told her. "I expected monsieur's visit."

"Oh, if mademoiselle is assured----?"

"Quite, Madame."

The Frenchwoman hurried from the office and left the girl and the secret agent alone. The latter smiled quietly and asked Ruth to be seated.

"It is from Monsieur Joilette, at Lyse, that I come, as I say. He informs me you have the logic of a man--and a man's courage, Mademoiselle. He thinks highly of you."

"Perhaps he thinks too highly of my courage," Ruth returned, smiling.

"Not so," proceeded Monsieur Lafrane, with rather a stern countenance, "for it must take some courage to tell but half your story when first you went to Monsieur Joilette. It is not--er--exactly safe to tell half truths to the French police, Mademoiselle."

"Not if one is an American?" smiled Ruth, not at all shaken. "Nor did I consider that I did wrong in saying nothing about Mrs. Mantel at the time, when I had nothing but suspicion against her. If Monsieur Joilette is as wise as I think him, he could easily have found the connection between those two dishonest men from America and the lady."

"True. And he did so," said the secret agent, nodding emphatically. "But already Legrand and this José had made what you Americans would call 'a killing,' yes?" Ruth nodded, smiling. "They got away with the money. But we are not allowing Madame Mantel, as she calls herself----"

"That isn't her name then?"

"Name of a name!" ejaculated the man in disgust. "I should say not. She is Rosa Bonnet, who married an American crook four years ago and went to the United States. He was shot, I understand, in an attempt of his gang to rob a bank in one of your Western States."

"Oh! And she came East and entered into our Red Cross work. How dreadful!"

"Rosa is a sharp woman. We believe she has done work for _les Boches_. But then," he added, "we believe that of every crook we capture now."

"And is she arrested?"

"But yes, Mademoiselle," he said good-naturedly. "At least the police of Lyse were about to gather her in as I left this afternoon to come over here. But the men----"

"Oh, Monsieur!" cried Ruth, with clasped hands, "they have been in this neighborhood only to-day."

He shot in a quick: "How do you know that, Mademoiselle Fielding?"

She told him of the French girl's visit and of what Henriette had said of seeing Legrand, the Mexican and Bessie riding away in a motor-car from the chateau.

"To be trusted, this girl? This Mademoiselle Dupay?"

"Oh, quite!"

"The scoundrels! They slip through our fingers at every turn. But we will have them yet. Surely they cannot escape us for long. There are too many looking for them--both of the secret police and of the army."

"Then the woman, too! The old woman and that José may only be related. Perhaps she has nothing to do with--with----"

"With what, Mademoiselle?" he asked, smiling across the table at her, and that grimly.

"Is there not spying, too? Don't you think these people are in communication with the Germans?"

"Could you expect me to answer that query, Mademoiselle?" he returned, his eyes suddenly twinkling. "But, yes! I see you are vitally interested. And you have heard this old wives' tale of the werwolf."

He quite startled her then, for she had said nothing of that in her letter to the Lyse prefect of police.

"Some matters must be cleared up. You may be able to help, Mademoiselle. I have come to ask you to make a call with me."

"A call? On the Dupays? I hope I have said nothing to lead you to suppose that they are not loyal. And they have been kind to me."

"Quite so, Mademoiselle," he rejoined again with gravity. "I would ask you to do nothing that will make you feel an atom of disgrace. No, no! A mere call--and you shall return here in an hour."

Ruth knew it was a command as well as a request. She hurried for her wrap, for the evening was damp. But she did not remove her costume of the Red Cross.

As she came down to the waiting car she saw that she was peered at by several of the nurses. Some wind of what was going on evidently had got about the hospital.

Ruth ran down the steps and jumped into the car, the tonneau door of which was held open by the man with whom she had talked in the matron's office. Instantly the engine began to purr and the car slipped away from the steps.

Lafrane bowed to Ruth again, and said, with a gesture, as though introducing her:

"My comrades, Mademoiselle Fielding. Be of good courage. Like myself, Mademoiselle, they admire the courage of _les Americaines_."

Ruth could say nothing to that. She felt half stifled with seething emotions. Her heart beat rapidly. What was now going to happen to her? She had endured many strange experiences since coming to France; but she had to admit that she was not prepared for this occurrence.

The car shot through the tortuous roads swiftly. Suddenly she noted that they were taking the hilly road to the Dupay farm--the longer way. They mounted the hill toward the chateau gate.

A light flashed ahead in the roadway. The car was pulled down to a stop before the entrance to the Chateau Marchand. Another soldierly looking man--this one in uniform--held the lantern and pointed to the gateway of the estate. To Ruth's surprise the wide gates were open.

The guard said something swiftly that the girl did not catch. The chauffeur manipulated the clutch and again the car leaped ahead. It turned directly into the private drive leading up to the chateau.