n his astonished expression
attracted the detective's attention at once. He tapped the curio dealer
lightly on the shoulder.

Dufrenne turned suddenly, much startled, then recognizing Duvall, drew
him to one side. "I have watched the door every minute since you left,"
he said in a trembling voice. "Seltz did not come out--yet he is not
inside. No one is there but Monsieur Perrier."

Duvall started back with a muttered exclamation. "You--you must be
mistaken," he cried.

"Look!" The Frenchman pointed to the window. Duvall glanced within. The
proprietor of the place was its only occupant.

The detective turned to his companion and nodded. "Come inside," he
said, shortly, and striding up to the door, threw it open and entered
the place.

Monsieur Perrier, startled half out of his wits by the suddenness with
which Duvall entered the room, dropped the comb with which he had been
arranging his hair and turned with an alarmed face. "The shop--it is
closed for the night," he said. "My men have all gone home."

"Has Seltz gone?" asked Duvall, sharply.

"Seltz? Surely. He left immediately after shaving this gentleman."
Perrier indicated Dufrenne with a fat and trembling forefinger. "Is
anything wrong, gentlemen? Was the shave not satisfactory?"

Duvall looked at the curio dealer with a smile of chagrin. "It's
perfectly clear, Dufrenne," he said, somewhat crestfallen. "Our man went
out as we were walking up the street--while you were telling me what
happened in the shop."

The little old man nodded. Monsieur Perrier continued to gaze at his
visitors. "What is it you wish, gentlemen?" he presently inquired.

"Where does Seltz live?" Duvall demanded, sharply.

"Alas--I do not know. He has worked for me but three months. I knew
nothing of him--nothing at all. He--he asked for leave of absence
yesterday--he was to be gone a week, but to-night he told me that he
would not go."

Duvall's eyes lit up. He turned to Dufrenne. "After what
happened--to-night," he said, significantly, "he feared to
leave--thinking that his going away would be an admission of his guilt."

Again Dufrenne nodded. Monsieur Perrier looked at them with bulging
eyes. "Guilt!" he exclaimed. "Has this fellow Seltz been doing anything
he should not?"

"Possibly," Duvall ejaculated, dryly. "Do you happen to know where he
was going?"

"He--he said something about visiting his parents. Oh--gentlemen--I beg
of you, do not cause any scandal--it would rui