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Lola stood before me wringing her hands.
"What are you going to do?"
"I can get an introduction to the _Chef de bureau_ of the information
department of the _Ministere de la Guerre_ in Paris," I replied after
a moment's reflection. "He will be able to tell me whether Captain
Vauvenarde is alive or dead."
"He is alive. He must be."
"Very well. But I doubt whether Captain Vauvenarde keeps the office
informed of his movements."
"But you'll go in search of him, won't you?"
"The earth is rather a large place," I objected. "He may be in Dieppe,
or he may be on top of Mount Popocatapetl."
"I'm sure you'll find him," she said encouragingly.
"You'll own," said I, "that there's something humourous in the idea
of my wandering all over the surface of the planet in search of a
lost captain of Chasseurs. It is true that we might employ a private
detective."
"Yes!" she cried eagerly. "Why not? Then you could stay here--and I
could go on seeing you till the news came. Let us do that."
The swiftness of her change of mood surprised me.


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