"Do you mean that the police in Paris may become the hired tools of malefactors ?" "Not altogether that," Spencer said, waving aside a dish presented before him by the head waiter himself with a gesture of approval.

"Not necessarily malefactors.

But there are other powers to be taken into consideration, and most unaccountably your two friends are in deeper water than your story led me to expect.

Now, not another question, please, until you have tried that sauce.

Absolute silence, if you please, for at least three or four minutes." Duncombe obeyed with an ill grace.