His own name had been
inscribed there last, and he started when he saw another written beneath
it in a bold flowing hand. But the light was so dim that he could not at
first make it out, and despite all his courage and power of will an
uncanny feeling seized him. A chill ran along his spine, and his hair
lifted a little.
With a cry of anger at himself, he seized the candle and held it over
the page. Then he read the new name:
_Fernand Weber, Paris and Alsace._
With another exclamation, but this time of relief, he put the candle
back upon the desk. Two beads of perspiration that had formed upon his
brow rolled from it, and fell upon the register. And Weber had come,
too! He was not surprised at it. Since he was Lannes' messenger, and he
was free to come and go as he pleased, it was altogether likely that he
would appear in Chastel to see the reunion of brother and sister, and
his work well done. Moreover, he was a man who knew. John had often
noticed that Weber's characteristic was knowledge and now he would help
them.
He lifted the candle high above his head and looked around the lobby,
but there was no sign of the Alsatian. He must have gone outside again.
Saying nothing to Julie or the Picards, John resolved to seek him. He
needed his heavy overcoat and he was able to secure it unobserved,
because Julie had gone up to her room, and Antoine and Suzanne had
disappeared in the back regions of the hotel.
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