use. The cigar-case was gone. I threw everything in the dressing-case
out on the floor, although I knew it was useless to look for it there.
I knew that I had put it in the bag. I sat down and tried to think. I
remembered I had put it in the satchel at Paris just as that woman had
entered the compartment, and I had been alone with her ever since, so
it was she who had robbed me. But how? It had never left my shoulder.
And then I remembered that it had--that I had taken it off when I had
changed my coat and for the few moments that I was searching for
Natalie. I remembered that the woman had sent me on that goose chase,
and that at every other station she had tried to get rid of me on some
fool errand.

"I gave a roar like a mad bull, and I jumped down the stairs six steps
at a time.

"I demanded at the office if a distinguished lady of title, possibly a
Russian, had just entered the hotel.

"As I expected, she had not. I sprang into a cab and inquired at two
other hotels, and then I saw the folly of trying to catch her without
outside help, and I ordered the fellow to gallop to the office of the
Chief of Police. I told my story, and the ass in charge asked me to
calm myself, and wanted to take notes. I told him this was no time for
taking notes, but for doing something. He got wrathy at that, and I
demanded to be taken at once to his Chief. The Chief, he said, was
very busy, and could not see me. So I showed him my silver greyhound.
In eleven years I had never used it but once before. I stated in
pretty vigorous language that I was a Queen's Messenger, and that if
the Chief of Police did not see me instantly he would lose his
official head. At that the fellow jumped off his high horse and ran