The Washington herald., 1914-10-18

said thoughtfully, 1t IS rather a serious
thing that this fellow Dupoy shozid
have disappeared in the heart Of Lon
don. Where are you going when ycsi
leave hers?'
Il am going exactly where Dupoy
went / am going to lunch in a little
restaurant of Shaftesbury avenue,
strongly recommended to me BY per
son whom I suspect was interested in
Dupoy's disappearance. expect there
to obtain at any rate a hint"
Sir William nodded in an interested
manner.
Anyhow he suggested, you'd bet
ter LET me know the name Of the res
taurant, in case you do the disappear
ance trick, or anything of that sort"
Brooke seribbled it down ypon piece
of paper. Then, with sealed packet
in his hand which he had the air Of
endeavoring TO conceal as much as pos
sible, he left the building and re-entered
his taxieab.
He drove first to Scotland Yard
where, for the sake Of appearances, he
made few aimless inquiries about In
spector Simmons, who was out Of town.
At quarter to one he was set down
outside the Cafe Hollande.
He entered the place and looked
around him for minute A little dark
man came hurrying toward him, his
face wreAthed in smiles.
Jean Marehand?" Brooke asked.
But certainly. monsieur" the little
man replied. sIt is Monsieur Paul who
has sent you here?"
paul of Delacher's Hotel" Brooke
admitted
Brooke followed his guide down the
stairs into a large and somewhat empty
apartment, in which were set a few
tables only. At the bottom of the stairs
an orchestra of three musicians was
playing. There were only one or two
people lunching.
at is not yet l." Jean explained
Between 2 and 80 this room will be
crowded. There are celebrities who
come here l myself will point them
out to monsieur. I recommend this
table-the one in the corner"
But it is already occupied" Brooke
remarked, glancing with a slightly puz-
zled air at the girl in the corner, who
seemed on the point of raising her veil
The adjoining table, then, monsieur, "
| Jean begged Monsieur may make
himself comfortable I myself will re-
turn to take his order for luncheon"
Jean retreated with smooth haste.
Brooke advanced slowly toward the cor
ner of the room indicated. Then he
stopped short. The girl had raised her
veil.
@ConstanceP he exclaimed.
"Youi" she echoed.
Brooke took seat opposite to her.
What on earth does this mean?" he
cried.
She tore open a letter which lay on
the table by her side. She glanced
through the few lines and passed it
across to him.
"A man called upon me this morn
ing" she exclaimed. "He asked for my
aid in a certain private matter. The
first step was that l should lunch here
at table which should be pointed out
by maitre d'hotel named Jean March
and. and that l should open this letter
if neighbor should take the adjoining
place Read"
Brooke snatched at the half sheet of
notepaper Across it was written in a
bold, sprawling hand
Good fortune and good appetite to
Monsieur Dupoy from Paris. and
mademoiselle, his charming partner r
Brooke looked up at Constance and
met her eyes steadily fixed upon his.
This means" he said slowly.
The wrinkles began to form around
her eyes. She was beginning to laugh
'It means that you have run up
against some one even cleverer than We
are" she declared. He looked at her
with little of that old-time cast of i'm
beciliy on his face.
"a philosophical attitude" Brooke
insisted at length, "is our best role. We
came here to lunch-we will lunch. We
will lunch well"
Certainly there was nothing to be
complained of in the cooking at the
Cafe Hollande The service was little
slow and there was queer sense of
emptiness in the room As though by
mutual consent, neither Constance nor
Brooke talked of the disappearance of
Dupoy. 1t was only over their coffee,
during the last few moments, that the
subject was mentioned.
Il made a mistake, of course" I"
Brooke confessed. ut was foolish of
me even to show myself at Deiacher's
Hotel"
She nodded. Soon afterward they
rose and, Brooke having paid the bill,
they aseended the stairs and walked out
into the street, without having seen any
thing further of Jean Marchand. As