The Spectator., 1915-07-02
CHAPTER Vli-Continued.

That night, after calling upon the detective, Mackenzie took the sleep Ing car express to Huston. The res taurant which Hutcheson had indicated was. l found. situated about halfway up Westbourne Grove. nearly oppo- Site Whiteley's. It was soon after nine o'clock when 1 entered the long shop With its rows of handicapped tables and greasy lounges of red plush An unhealthy-looking lad was sweeping out the place with wet sawdust, and a Dig, dark-bearded, flabby faced man in shirt sleeves stood behind the small counter polishing some forks
 "l wish to see Signor Ferrari." Isaid addressing him.
 There Is no Ferrari, he Is dea6," re- sponded the man in broken English My name is Odinzoff. I bought the place from madame"
 T have come to inquire after a waiter you have in your service, an Italian named Santini He was my servant for some years, and naturally take an interest in him."
 "Santini?" he repeated. "Oh, you mean Olinto? He is not here yet He comes at ten o'clock"
 This reply surprised me- I had ex- pected the restaurant keeper to ex- press regret at his disappearance, yet he spoke as though he had been at work as usual on the previous day
 You find Olinto a good servant, suppose?" l said. for want of some thing else to say.
 Excellent. The Italians are the best walters In the world. am Russian, but dare not employ Russian wait CT. These English would not come to my shop if did"
 How long has Olinto been with your" l inquired
 About year-perhaps a little more. l trust him implicitly, and leave him in charge when go away for holidays. He does not get along very swell with the cook-who is Mi Nianese. These, Italians from different provinces always quarrel" he added. laughing. If you live in Italy you Know that, no dou0t
 laughed in chorus and then, gLanc- ing at my watch. said: "Ill wait for him, If he will be here at ten I'd much like to see him again"
 The Russian was by no means non- lplused. but merely remarked: He is late. sometimes. but not often. He lives on the other side of London-over at Camberwell"
 Suddenly side door opened and the cook put his head in to speak with his master in French. He was a typi- cal Italian. about forty, with dark mus taches turned upwards, and an easy. going, careless manner Seeing me. however. and believing me to be GUS toner. he turned and closed the door quickly. In that instant I noticed the high broadness of his shoulders, and his hack struck me as strangely simi. lar to that of the man in brown whom we had seen disappearing in Rannoch wood.
 The suspicion held me breathless.
 Presently Odinzoff went outside. car rying with him two boards upon which the menu of the "Eightpenny Lunch con! This Day!" was written in scrawiy characters. and proceeded to affix them to the shop front
 This was my opportunity. and quick as thought moved towards where the unhealthy youth was at work. and whispered:
 I'll give you half-a-sovereign if you'll answer my questions truthfully. Now. tell me, was the cook. the man I've just seen. here yesterday2"
 Emilio? Yes. sir"
 Was he here the day before?"
 No, sir He's been away i'll for four Aera
 And your master?"
 l had no time Co put any further question. for the Russian re~entered at that moment. and the youth husied himself rubbing the front of the coun. ter in pretense that had not spoken to him. Indeed. l had some difficulty in slipping the promised coin into his hand at moment when his master was not looking.
 While stood there rather thin. re- specially dressed man entered and seated himself upon one of the plush