It was not till after dinner that I found opportunity to relate to
Miss Kemball the details of my talk with Martigny. She listened
quietly until I had finished; then she looked at me smilingly.
"Why did you change your mind?" she asked.
"The adventure tempted me--those are your own words. I thought perhaps
I might be able to throw Martigny off the track."
"And do you think you succeeded?"
"I don't know," I answered doubtfully. "He may have seen clear through
me."
"Oh, I don't believe him superhuman! I believe you succeeded."
"We shall know to-morrow," I suggested.
"Yes--and you must keep up the deception till the last moment.
Remember, he will be watching you. He mustn't see you take the train
for Etretat."
"I'll do my best," I said.
"And don't make mountains out of mole-hills. You see, you've been
distrusting yourself needlessly. One mustn't be too timid!"
"Do you think I'm too timid?" I demanded, eager instantly to prove the
contrary.
But she saw the light in my eyes, I suppose, for she drew away, almost
imperceptibly.
"Only in some things," she retorted, and silenced me.
The evening passed and the last day came. We sighted land soon after
breakfast--the high white cliffs of Cape La Hague--vague at first, but
slowly lifting as we plowed on into the bay, with the crowded roofs of
Havre far ahead.
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