restaurant or the immediate neighbourhood, or of making inquiries
as to whether he had been seen, or as to which way he had gone?"

"Pardon me, monsieur is too hard on me. I have been unfortunate, a
victim to circumstances, still I believe I know my duty. Yes, I made
inquiries, and, what is more, I heard of him."

"Where? how?" asked the Chief, gruffly, but obviously much
interested.

"He never spoke to the manager, but walked out and let the change
go. It was a note for a hundred _lire_, a hundred francs, and
the restaurant bill was no more than seventeen francs."

"Hah! that is greatly against him indeed."

"He was much pressed, in a great hurry. Directly he crossed the
threshold he called the first cab and was driving away, but he was
stopped--"

"The devil! Why did they not keep him, then?"

"Stopped, but only for a moment, and accosted by a woman."

"A woman?"

"Yes, monsieur. They exchanged but three words. He wished to pass
on, to leave her, she would not consent, then they both got into
the cab and were driven away together."