ce," I said.

The man smiled and returned the card to me.

"Mlle. Zara el-Khala left Paris at seven o'clock, monsieur!"

"What! I cried--left Paris!"

"But certainly. Her baskets were taken to the Gare du Nord an hour
earlier by her servant and she went off by the seven-fifty rapid for
Calais. The theatre people were here asking for her an hour ago."

I hurried to my office to obtain the latest reports of my men, I had
lost touch with them, you understand, during the latter part of the
afternoon and evening. I found there the utmost confusion. They had
been seeking me all over Paris to inform me that Zara el-Khala had
left. Two men had followed her and had telephoned from Calais for
instructions. She had crossed by the night mail for Dover. It was
already too late to instruct the English police.

For a few hours I had relaxed my usual vigilance--and this was the
result. What could I do? Zara el-Khala had committed no crime, but
her sudden flight--for it looked like flight you will agree--was
highly suspicious. And as I sat there in my office filled with all
sorts of misgivings, in ran one of the men engaged in watching the
Grand Duke.

The Grand Duke had been seized with illness as he left his box in the
Montmartre theatre and had died before his car could reach the hotel!

CHAPTER III

A STRANGE QUESTION

A conviction burst upon my mind that a frightful crime had been
committed. By whom and for what purpose I knew not. I hastened to the
hotel of the Grand Duke. Tremendous excitement prevailed there, of
course. There is no more certain way for a great personage to court
publicity than to travel incognito. Everywhere that "M. de Stahler"
had appeared all Paris had cried, "There goes the Grand Duke Ivan!"
And now as I entered the hotel, press, police and public were
demanding: "Is it true that the Grand Duke is dead?" Just emerging
from the lift I saw Casimir. _In propria persona_--as M. Max--he
failed to recognize me.

"My good man," I said--"are you a member of the suite of the late
Grand Duke?"

"I am, or was, the valet of M. de Stahler, monsieur," he replied.

I showed him my card.

"To me 'M. de Stahler' is the Grand Duke Ivan. What other servants had
he with him?" I asked, although I knew very well.

"None, monsieur."

"Where and when was he taken ill?"

"At the Theatre Coquerico. Montmartre, at about a quarter past ten
o'clock to-night."

"Who was with him?"

"No one, monsieur. Hi