"He will be able to tell me whether Captain Vauvenarde is alive or dead." "He is alive.

He must be." "Very well.

But I doubt whether Captain Vauvenarde keeps the office informed of his movements." "But you'll go in search of him, won't you ?" "The earth is rather a large place," I objected.

"He may be in Dieppe, or he may be on top of Mount Popocatapetl." "I'm sure you'll find him," she said encouragingly.
"You'll own," said I, "that there's something humourous in the idea of my wandering all over the surface of the planet in search of a lost captain of Chasseurs.

It is true that we might employ a private detective." "Yes!" she cried eagerly.