566
PARTISAN REVIEW
"We'll tell you all about the road later," said the policeman.
"Anyhow, follow me to the station."
This man was a sourfaced martinet from the south, who had
to find in his official duties his petty revenges on life. Martin had a
feeling that the game would be a hard one.
"Listen, Officer. I'm not going to try to fool you. This is how
it is. This morning I made up my mind to go and have a look at
my property at Verrieres. To tell the truth, there's not much to be
done there at this season, but my wife insisted on it. I didn't want
to cross her, especially as she is expecting toward the end of next
month. Women in that condition, you know how they are. Maybe
you're married yourself, Officer. ... "
"I'm married," replied the policeman somewhat crossly, "but I
haven't any children."
"And you're dead right, Officer. At times like these children are
more worry than pleasure. Still they're here, eh? In short, I reach
Verrieres on the stroke of eleven o'clock. My man was waiting for
me at the station, as usual."
"That's this man here?" asked the policeman.
"Exactly. He'll never set the river on fire, but he's devoted to
me. Just think, he's worked for my family since he w.as fifteen years
old."
"I see," said the policeman. "Not very bright, but an honest
boy, eh?"
.
He laughed with indulgent understanding. Martin set the valises
on the pavement. The ram, bending his knees slightly, deposited his
~lso.
As
he straightened himself, he landed his fist on the jaw of the
policeman, who doubled his knees and fell flat on his stomach without
making a sound. Grandgil leaned over the prostrate man, ran his
hands over the uniform, and then possessing himself of the cap which
still encased the officer's skull, he threw it fifteen yards away in the
middle of the street. The visor shone in the moonlight.
"Let's make tracks," said Martin, who, because the pavement
lay in deep shadow, had divined rather than seen the action of his
associate.
Catching up their valises, they hurried away without exchanging
a word, taking long steps, anxious to reach the first cross street which
opened to their left. The moon shone full upon their course now, and
