Crittenden press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1879-1907, 1902-07-03
CHAPTER VIII.

CHAPTER VIII.
Unlike so many of my countrymen
l am prepared to state that I detest
the French capital. | always make
my visits to il as brief as possible.
then, my business completed. off
fly again, seeming to breathe more
freely when l am outside its bouu-
daries. don't know why this
should be so, for l have always been
treated with the utmost courtesy and
consideration by its inhabitants. par
ticularly by those members OF the
French detective force with whom |
| have been brought in contact.
On this visit / crossed with one Of
the cleverest Partisan detectives, a
man with whom / have had many
/ dealings. He was most anxious to
ascertain the reason Of my visit TO
| his country. My assurance that l
was not in search of any one of his
own criminals seemed to afford him
no sort of satisfaction. He probably
regarded il as an attempt 10 put him
of the scent, and l fancy he resent
ed il. We reached Paris at seven
o'clock. whereupon l invited him 10
dine with me at eight o'clock, at a
restaurant we had both patronized on
many previous occasions. He accept
ed my invitation, and promised 70
meet me at the time and place |
named. On the platform awaiting
our arrival was my man Dickson, TO
whom l had telegrsphed, ordering
him 10 meet me.
"Well, Dickson" said, when l had
babe the detective au revoir, what
about our man."
1--WE had him under my eye, sir"
he answered. IL know exactly what
he's been doing, and where he's stay
ing"
That's good news, indeed" l re-
piled. Have you discovered anything
else about him?"
"Yes, SIR" he returned. 81 find
that he's struck up a sudden &C
quaintance with a lady named Nine.
Beaumarais, and that they are 20
dine together at the Cafe des Am
bassadeurs tonight. They have been
in and out Of half the jewelers. shops
in the Rue de Ia Paix to-day. and he's
spending a mint of money on her"
They are dining at the Cafe des
Ambassadors tonight, did you say?
At what time?"
II cannot tell you that, sir" Dick
son replied. II only know that they
are 10 dine there together tonight"
And pray how did you find that
out?"
was, and where she lived, and then
pumped her maid" he answered
You did not do anything that
would excite his suspicious, / hope"
l put in. You ought 20 know by
this time what women are"
"Oh, no, sir, you needn't be
afraid" he said. 81 was too careful
for that. The maid and l are on
very friendly terms. She believes
me to be Russian. and I've not de-
MED it,"
1T would be safest not TO do So"
| replied. IF she discovers that you
are an Englshman, she might chance
10 mention the fact TO her mistress.
She would doubtless let it fall in
conversation with him, and then all
our trouble would be useless. You
speak Russian, do you not?"
"Ony pretty wen, sir" he an
swered. II should be soon bowled
out if came in contact with real
one"
well, think will be somewhere
near the Cafe des Ambassadors to-
night just TO make sure of my man.
After that I'll tell you what to do
next"
"Very good, sir" he returned. 81
suppose you will be staying at the
same place."
"Yesg the same place." l replied.
IF you have anything TO commun-
cate, you can either call, or send
word to me there"
| thereupon departed for the quiet
house at which l usually take up my
abode when in Paris. The big hotels
are places / steer clear Of, for the
| simple reason that | often have bust
ness in connection with them, and /.
! does not pay me TO become too well
known. At this little house / can go
out and come in just as / please.
have my meals at any time of the
! day or night, and am as well cared
for as at my own abode in London.
On this occasion the old lady Of the
| house greeted me with fattering en-
thusiasm. She had received my tele-
gram, she said, and my usual room
awaited me. l accordingly assembled
to it in order 10 dress myself for the
/ dinner of the evening and as / did
so thought of the pretty bedroom
had seen on the previous day, which
naturally led me to think of the
owner of the house, at that moment
my employer. In my minds eye !
could see her just as she had stood
on that old stone bridge at Bishop
stowe, with the sunset behind her
aud the church bells sounding across
the meadows, calling the villagers 10
go II