XIV
FLIGHT THROUGH THE NIGHT
Scarcely had Loupart received Josephine in his arms, as she jumped fromthe carriage, than he strenuously urged his companions to make haste.
"Now, then, boys, off we go, and quickly, too! Josephine, pick up yourskirts and get a move on!"
It was a dark night, without moon, favourable to the robber's plans. Fora good fifteen minutes the ill-omened crew continued their retreat byforced march. From time to time Loupart questioned the "Beard":
"This the way?"
The other nodded assent: "Keep on, we'll get there."
At length they descried the white ribbon of a road winding up the sideof the low hill and vanishing in the distance into a small wood.
"There's the track," declared the Beard.
"To Dijon?"
"No, to Verrez."
"That's a good thing; now, stop and listen to me."
Loupart sat down on the grass and addressed them.
"It's been a good stroke, friends, but unfortunately it's not finishedyet. They took precautions we couldn't foresee. We have only part of thefat. We share up to-morrow evening."
He was answered by growls of disappointment.
"I said to-morrow evening," he repeated. "Those who aren't satisfiedwith that can stay away. There'll be all the more for the others. Now,we must separate. Josephine, you, the Beard and I will get backtogether. There's work for us in Paris. The others scatter and take carenot to get pinched; be back in the nest by ten."
Loupart motioned to the Beard and Josephine to follow him.
"Show us the way, Beard."
"Where to?"
"The telegraph office."
"What's up?"
"Why, you idiot," replied Loupart, "we've been robbed! The wine-dealer'snotes are only halves! The swine insured himself for nothing."
The Beard broke out into recriminations.
"To have a hundred and fifty notes in your pocket, and they good fornothing! There was no such thing as Providence! It was sickening."
"Come, don't get angry, two halves will make a whole."
"You know where to lay hands on the rest?"
"Yes, old man."
"That's our job to-morrow evening? That's why you're chasing to thetelegraph office?"
Loupart clenched his fists.
"That and something else; there's bigger game afoot."
"What?"
"Juve."
"Oh, the devil!" murmured the Beard, divided between pleasure and fear."You've got the beggar?"
"I have."
"Sure?"
"Sure."
The little group moved forward in silence. At length Josephine began totire.
"Say, have we much further to go?"
"No," replied the Beard. "Verrez village is behind that hill. The mainroad runs by the row of poplars."
"All right. Go and wait there with Josephine. I'll catch you up in aquarter of an hour," ordered Loupart. "I've a wire to send off."
His acolytes gone, Loupart resumed his way. As a measure of precaution,he took off his jacket, turned it inside out and put it on again. Thejacket was a trick one: the lining was a different colour and thepockets differently placed.
On reaching Verrez, Loupart turned round. From the top of the littlehill he could see, in the distance, the reddening flames.
"That's going all right," thought the wretch; "the Simplon express hasrun into the cars. There must be a fine mix-up there."
Reaching the post-office at last, he seized a blank and wrote on ithastily:
"Juve, Inspector of Safety, 142 Rue Bonaparte, Paris. All is well; found gang complete, including Loupart. Robbery committed but failed. Cannot give details. Be at Bercy Stores alone, but armed, to-morrow at eleven at night, near the Kessler House cellars.
"Fandor."
The clerk held out her hand to take the message. The bandit wasextremely polite.
"Be so good as to pay special attention to this message. Read it over,madam. You grasp the importance of it? You see it must be keptabsolutely secret. I rely on you."
Ten minutes' quick walking brought Loupart once more to Josephine andthe Beard.
"Hullo!" he cried. "Anything new?"
"Nothing."
"Josephine, go down the hill and the first motor that passes, set to andhowl; call 'help' and 'murder'; got to stop it. Be off! Look sharp!"
Some minutes passed. The two men watched Josephine go down the road andhide in one of the ditches.
"Your barker is ready, Beard?"
"Six plugs, Loupart."
"Good! You go to the right, I to the left."
Loupart had scarcely given these orders, when, on the horizon, a brightgleam became visible, growing larger every minute, while the noise of amotor broke the silence of the open country.
Loupart laughed.
"Look, Beard. Acetylene lamps, eh? That car will do our job splendidly."
An automobile was fast nearing them. As it passed by Josephine, sherushed into the road, uttering piercing cries.
"Help! Murder! Have pity! Stop!"
With a hasty movement the chauffeur, taken aback by the sight of a womanrising unexpectedly on the lonely road, made a dash at his brakes.Meanwhile from the inside of the car a traveller leaned out.
"What is it? What's the matter?"
As the car was about to stop, Loupart and the Beard rushed out.
"You take the passenger!" cried the former; "I'll attend to thechauffeur."
The two brigands sprang on the footboards.
"No tricks, or I'll shoot! Josephine, truss these fowls for me!" criedLoupart.
Josephine took a roll of cord from her lover's pocket and tied the twovictims firmly while Loupart gagged them.
"Now, Beard, take them into the field and give them a rap on the head tokeep them quiet."
Then he got into the car and skilfully turned it round. When Josephineand the Beard were on board, he got under way at full speed with a grimsmile.
"And, now, Juve, it's between us two!"