Now they were going downhill； twisting and curving unceasingly。 Presently the car slackened speed； and finally came to a standstill before a Bureau de Poste。 The te jumped out； lifted the lid of the tool chest； extracted the small brown paper parcel and hurried into the post office。 Two minutes later he was driving once more in the direction of Mentone。 When the grey car arrived there； the te was drinking English five o'clock tea on the terrace of one of the hotels。
Later； he drove back to Monte Carlo； dined there； and reached home once more at eleven o'clock。 Hippolyte came out to meet him with a disturbed face。
〃Ah！ Monsieur le te has arrived。 Monsieur le te did not telephone me； by any chance？〃
The te shook his head。
〃And yet at three o'clock I received a summons from Monsieur le te； to present myself to him at Nice； at the Negresco。〃
〃Really；〃 said the te； 〃and you went？〃
〃Certainly； Monsieur； but at the Negresco they knew nothing of Monsieur le te … he had not been there。〃
〃Ah〃 said the te； 〃doubtless at that hour Marie was out doing her afternoon marketing？〃
〃That is so； Monsieur le te。〃
〃Ah； well；〃 said the te； 〃it is of no importance。 A mistake。〃
He went upstairs； smiling to himself。
Once within his own room； he bolted his door and looked sharply round。 Everything seemed as usual。 He opened various drawers and cupboards。 Then he nodded to himself。
Things had been replaced almost ex