"I shall, no doubt, pass the time very pleasantly," laughed Hugh, speaking in French.
Then the old crone left them and returned with two cups of excellent cafe nero, that coffee which, roasted at home one can get only in Italy.
It was indeed refreshing after that long night drive.
Hugh stood there without luggage, and with only about thirty pounds in his pocket.
Suddenly the man who had driven him looked him curiously in the face, and said: "Ah! I know you are wondering what your lady friend in Monte Carlo will think. Well, I can tell you this. She already knows that you have escaped, and she had been told to write to you in secret at the Poste Restante at Brussels."
Hugh started.
"Who has told her? Surely she knows nothing of the affair at the Villa Amette?"
"She will not be told that. But she has been told that you are going to Brussels, and that in future your name is Monsieur Godfrey Brown."
"But why have all these elaborate arrangements been made for my security?" Hugh demanded, more than ever nonplussed.
"It is useless to take one precaution unless the whole are taken," laughed the sphinx-like fellow whose cheerful banter had so successfully passed them through the customs barrier.
Then, swallowing his coffee, he wished Hugh, "buon viaggio" and was about to depart, when Hugh said: "Look here. Is it quite impossible for you to give me any inkling concerning this astounding affair? I know that some unknown friend, or friends, are looking after my welfare. But why? To whom am I indebted for all this? Who has warned Miss Ranscomb and told her of my alias and my journey to Brussels?"
"A friend of hers and of yourself," was the chauffeur's reply. "No, please do not question me, signore," he added. "I have done my best for you. And now my journey is at an end, while yours is only beginning. Pardon me--but you have money with you, I suppose? If you have not, these good people here will trust you."
"But what is this house?"
The man laughed. Then he said: "Well, really it is a bolt-hole used by those who wish to evade our very astute police. If one conforms to the rules of Signora Ravecca and her husband, then one is quite safe and most comfortable."
Hugh realized that he was in a hiding-place used by thieves. A little later he knew that the ugly old woman's husband paid toll to a certain delegato of police, hence their house was never searched. While the criminal was in those shabby rooms he was immune from arrest. The place was, indeed, one of many hundreds scattered over Europe, asylums known to the international thief as places ever open so long as they can pay for their board and lodging and their contribution towards the police bribes.