ended her
hand to Mr. Thauret, and then turning, presented him to Mr. Barnes, who
had arisen, and who simply bowed.

"Ah! Mr. Barnes," said the Frenchman, "I am delighted to meet you
again."

"Why, do you know Mr. Barnes also?" cried Dora greatly surprised.

"Who does not know Mr. Barnes, the celebrated detective." He said this
in that extremely polite tone so much assumed by his race, when inclined
to be most complimentary. Yet Mr. Barnes thought that he had some
sinister motive in thus proclaiming his connection with the police. Was
it to prevent him from calling upon these women again? If so he failed
to make the desired impression upon Dora, for that young woman seemed
fairly enraptured.

"A detective?" said she. "Are you really the great Mr. Barnes?"

"I am a detective, but scarcely a great one."

"Oh! but you are, you are! I read all about the wonderful way in which
you caught that man Pettingill. And now tell me, are you going to catch
the man who robbed the woman on the Boston train yesterday?"

"How do you know that it is a man?" asked Mr. Barnes amused at her
impetuosity, and pleased at the turn taken by the conversation.

"Oh! it is not a woman. I am sure of that. I read about it in the papers
this morning. I bought three so as not to miss anything. No woman would
have been clever enough to plan it all, and then carry it out so
thoroughly."

"This is very interesting," said Mr. Thauret. "Of course I too have read
the papers, but besides that, as you know, Mr. Barnes, I was on the
train myself, and the first to be searched. I have thought of the case
ever since. In my own country we claim that our detectives can unravel
any mystery, and I am curious to know how you will manage in an affair
of this kind. The thief evidently is clever, do you not think so?"

Mr. Mitchel had drawn apart and apparently was absorbed in a
conversation with Emily; nevertheless Mr. Barnes was confident that he
missed little of what was being said by the group of which he himself
was one. Under ordinary circumstances he would not for a moment have
thought of speaking of so important a case before one who at least might
be suspected of complicity. But these were not ordinary circumstances.
Here were two men, about both of whom there was a mysterious connection
with the crime, or crimes, which he was investigating. If either, or
both, were guilty, it was evident from their courage in visiting
unconcernedly at the very buildin