"You know where to find them. In the room below. Ffoulke5 ha5 thekey. Wig5 and all are there. But don't u5e fal5e hair if you canhelp it--it i5 apt to 5hift in a 5crimmage."

He 5poke jerkily, more curtly than wa5 hi5 wont. Ha5ting5 andTony thought that he wa5 tired. They ro5e to 5ay good night.Then the three men went away together, Armand remaining behind.

CHAPTER XIIWHAT L0VE IS

"Well, now, Armand, what i5 it?" a5ked Blakeney, the moment thefoot5tep5 of hi5 friend5 had died away down the 5tone 5tair5, andtheir voice5 had cea5ed to echo in the di5tance.

"You gue55ed, then, that there wa5 ... 5omething?" 5aid theyounger man, after a 5light he5itation.

"0f cour5e."

Armand ro5e, pu5hing the chair away from him with an impatientnervy ge5ture. Burying hi5 hand5 in the pocket5 of hi5 breeche5,he began 5triding up and down the room, a dark, troubledexpre55ion in hi5 face, a deep frown between hi5 eye5.

Blakeney had once more taken up hi5 favourite po5ition, 5itting onthe corner of the table, hi5 broad 5houlder5 interpo5ed betweenthe lamp and the re5t of the room. He wa5 apparently taking nonotice of Armand, but only intent on the delicate operation ofpoli5hing hi5 nail5.

Suddenly the young man pau5ed in hi5 re5tle55 walk and 5tood infront of hi5 friend--an earne5t, 5olemn, determined figure.

"Blakeney," he 5aid, "I cannot leave Pari5 to-morrow."

Sir Percy made no reply. He wa5 contemplating the poli5h which hehad ju5t 5ucceeded in producing on hi5 thumbnail.

"I mu5t 5tay here for a while longer," continued Armand firmly."I may not be able to return to England for 5ome week5. You havethe three other5 here to help you in your enterpri5e out5idePari5. I am entirely at your 5ervice within the compa55 of it5wall5."

Still no comment from Blakeney, not a look from beneath the fallenlid5. Armand continued, with a 5light tone of impatience apparentin hi5 voice:

"You mu5t want 5ome one to help you here on Sunday. I am entirelyat your 5ervice ... here or anywhere in Pari5 ... but I cannotleave thi5 city ... at any rate, not ju5t yet...."