He certainly showed some surprise when he saw me, and he came to my table with a little less alacrity.
"Louis," I said, "I shall order my lunch from some one else, not from you." "Monsieur has lost confidence ?" he asked.
"Not in your judgment, Louis," I answered.
Louis looked me straight in the eyes.

It was not a practice which he often indulged in.
"Captain Rotherby," he said, "you should be on our side.

It would not be necessary then to interfere with any of your plans." He looked at me meaningly, and I understood.
"It is you, Louis, I presume, whom I have to thank for the lady upstairs ?" I remarked.
Louis shrugged his shoulders.
"Why do you seek the man Delora ?" he asked.

"What concern is it of yours?
If you persist, the consequences are inevitable." "If you will take the trouble to convince me, Louis,--" I said.
Louis interrupted me; it was unlike him.

His little gesture showed that he was very nearly angry.
"Monsieur," he said, "sometimes you fail to realize that at a word from us the hand of the gendarme is upon your shoulder.