that I have no great confidence in the police of this country. I
do not wish to be blackmailed or bullied. I would ask you,
therefore, to make your inquiries with discretion."

"I'll be careful, sir," the man answered.

Mr. Sabin handed to each of them a roll of notes. The cabdriver
lingered upon the threshold. Mr. Sabin looked up.

"Well?"

"Could I speak a word to you--in private, sir?"

Mr. Sabin motioned Duson to leave the room. The baggage porter
had already departed.

"When I cleaned out my cab at night, sir, I found this. I didn't
reckon it was of any consequence at first, but from the questions
you have been asking it may be useful to you."

Mr. Sabin took the half-sheet of note-paper in silence. It was the
ordinary stationery of the Waldorf Astoria Hotel, and the following
words were written upon it in a faint delicate handwriting, but in
yellow pencil:--

"Sept. 10th.
"To LUCILLE, Duchesse de SOUSPENNIER.-

"You will be at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in the main corridor
at four o'clock this afternoon."