CHAPTER XIV

LOUIS EXPLAINS

Louis returned of his own accord before long.

"Monsieur has been well served?" he asked genially.

"Excellently, Louis," I answered, "so far as the mere question of food goes. You have not, however, managed to satisfy my curiosity."

"Monsieur?" he asked interrogatively.

"Concerning the Deloras," I answered.

Louis shrugged his shoulders.

"But what should I know?" he asked. "Mr. Delora, he has come here last year and the year before. He has stayed for a month or so. He understands what he eats. That is all. Mademoiselle comes for the first time. I know her not at all."

"What do you think of his disappearance, Louis?" I asked.

"What should I think of it, monsieur? I know nothing."

"Mr. Delora, I am told," I continued, "is a coffee planter in South America."

"I, too," Louis admitted, "have heard so much."

"How came he to have the _entree_ to the Cafe des Deux Epingles?" I asked.

Louis smiled.

"I myself," he remarked, "am but a rare visitor there. How should I tell?"

"Louis," said I, "why not be honest with me? I am certainly not a person to be afraid of. I am very largely in your hands over the Tapilow affair, and, as you know, I have seen too much of the world to consider trifles. I do not believe that Mr. Delora came to London to sell his crop of coffee. I do not believe that you are ignorant of his affairs. I do not believe that his disappearance is so much a mystery to you as it is to the rest of us--say to me and to mademoiselle his niece."

Answer the following questions:
1. Who arrives?
2. Was he forced?
3. What did he ask when he got back?
4. Did he say this nicely?
5. Had they been?
6. What was he actually wanting to hear about?
7. Did he know much?
8. When was he there?
9. How long does he stay?
10. How is he with food?
11. Who else arrives?
12. Does he know her?
13. What is he asked about?
14. What did the other man say?
15. Where is he from?
16. What does he do there?
17. What does he have that is peculiar?
18. To what?
19. Does the man explain why?
20. Does the other man think he knows?
1. Louis
2. no
3. Monsieur has been well served
4. yes
5. as far as food
6. the Deloras
7. no
8. last year
9. a month or so
10. He understands it
11. Mademoiselle
12. no
13. his disappearance
14. "What should I think of it, monsieur? I know nothing."
15. South America
16. he's a coffee planter
17. the entree
18. the Cafe des Deux Epingles
19. no
20. yes