the garden?" inquired Hugh eagerly.

"Yes, m'sieur. They made a thorough examination, but have discovered no
marks of footprints except those of yourself, myself, and a tradesman's
lad who brought up a parcel late last night."

"Then they found no weapon?" asked the young Englishman.

"No, m'sieur. There is no clue whatever to the assailant."

"Curious that there should be no footmarks," remarked Brock. "Yet they
found yours, Hugh."

"Yes. The man must surely have left some trace outside!"

"One would certainly have thought so," Brock said. "I wonder if we may
go into the room where the tragedy happened?" he asked of the servant.

"Certainly, m'sieur," was the courteous reply, and he conducted them
both into the apartment wherein Mademoiselle of Monte Carlo had been
shot down.

"Did you accompany Mademoiselle when she went to London, Giulio?"
asked young Henfrey of the old Italian, after he had described to Brock
exactly what had occurred.

"Yes, m'sieur," he replied. "I was at Cromwell Road for a short time.
But I do not care for London, so Mademoiselle sent me back here to look
after the Villa because old Jean, the concierge, had been taken to the
hospital."

"When in London you knew some of Mademoiselle's friends, I suppose?"

"A few--only a few," was the Italian's reply.

"Did you ever know a certain Mr. Benton?"

The old fellow shook his head blankly.

"Not to my knowledge, m'sieur," he replied. "Mademoiselle had really
very few friends in London. There was a Mrs. Matthews and her husband,
Americans whom she met here in Monte Carlo, and Sir George Cave-Knight,
who died a few weeks ago."

"Do you remember an elderly gentleman named Henfrey calling?" asked
Hugh.

Old Cataldi reflected for a moment, and then answered:

"The name sounds familiar to me, m'sieur, but in what connexion I cannot
recollect. That is your name, is it not?" he asked, remembering the card
he had taken to his mistress.

"Yes," Hugh replied. "I have reason to believe that my late father was
acquainted with your mistress, and that he called upon her in London."

"I believe that a gentleman named Henfrey did call, because when
I glanced at the card you gave me last night the name struck me as
familiar," the servant said. "But whether he actually called, or whether
someone at table mentioned his name I really cannot recollect."

"Ah! That's a pity," exclaimed Hugh with a sigh. "As a matter of fact it
was in order to make ce