Part 16 (2/2)

Hanaud smiled.

”But that is a fine suggestion,” he cried. ”We must think over that,”

and he clapped his hand to his forehead with a gesture of self-reproach. ”Why did not such a fine idea occur to me, fool that I am! However, we will call the head waiter.”

The head waiter was sent for and appeared before them.

”You knew Mme. Dauvray?” Hanaud asked.

”Yes, monsieur--oh, the poor woman! And he flung up his hands.

”And you knew her young companion?”

”Oh yes, monsieur. They generally had their meals here. See, at that little table over there! I kept it for them. But monsieur knows well”--and the waiter looked towards Harry Wethermill--”for monsieur was often with them.”

”Yes,” said Hanaud. ”Did Mme. Dauvray dine at that little table last night?”

”No, monsieur. She was not here last night.”

”Nor Mlle. Celie?”

”No, monsieur! I do not think they were in the Villa des Fleurs at all.”

”We know they were not,” exclaimed Ricardo. ”Wethermill and I were in the rooms and we did not see them.”

”But perhaps you left early,” objected Hanaud.

”No,” said Ricardo. ”It was just ten o'clock when we reached the Majestic.”

”You reached your hotel at ten,” Hanaud repeated. ”Did you walk straight from here?”

”Yes.”

”Then you left here about a quarter to ten. And we know that Mme.

Dauvray was back at the villa soon after nine. Yes--they could not have been here last night,” Hanaud agreed, and sat for a moment silent. Then he turned to the head waiter.

”Have you noticed any woman with Mme. Dauvray and her companion lately?”

”No, monsieur. I do not think so.”

”Think! A woman, for instance, with red hair.”

Harry Wethermill started forward. Mr. Ricardo stared at Hanaud in amazement. The waiter reflected.

”No, monsieur. I have seen no woman with red hair.”

”Thank you,” said Hanaud, and the waiter moved away.

”A woman with red hair!” cried Wethermill. ”But Helene Vauquier described her. She was sallow; her eyes, her hair, were dark.”

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