n hours in Paris, but already his name
was inscribed upon the hotel-register awaiting the inspection of the
police, who would undoubtedly call that same day to note all new
arrivals.

Before starting for the Embassy, Hyde sat down and wrote a couple of
rather lengthy letters, both for England, which he addressed, and
himself posted at the corner of the Rue Royale.

Thence he went on, down the Faubourg St. Honore, not many hundred
yards, and soon passed under the gateway ornamented with the arms of
Great Britain, and stood upon what, by international agreement, was
deemed a strip of British soil.

He saw an _attache_, to whom he quickly explained himself.

"You wish to pursue the investigation yourself, I gather? Is it worth
while running such a risk? Why not hand over the whole business to the
Prefecture? I believe they have already put a watch upon the persons
suspected."

"I have no confidence in their doing it as surely as I would myself."

Hyde, it will be understood, had his own reasons for not wishing to
present himself at the Prefecture.

"You propose to assume a disguise? As you please; but how can we help
you?"

"By giving me papers in exchange for my passport, which you can hold,
and by sending after me if I do not reappear within two or three
days."

"You anticipate trouble, then; danger, perhaps."

"Not necessarily, but it is as well to take precautions."

"Is there anything else?"

"Yes; I should like to bring my disguise and put it on here. In the
porter's lodge, a back office--anywhere."

The _attache_ promised to get the ambassador's permission, which was
accorded in due course, and that same afternoon Hyde entered the
Embassy a well-dressed English gentleman, and came out an evil-looking
ruffian, wearing the blue blouse and high silk cap of the working
classes. One sleeve of the blouse hung loose across his chest, as
though he had lost his arm, but his injured limb was safe underneath
the garment. His beard was trimmed close, and on either side of his
forehead were two great curls, plastered flat on the temple, after the
fashion so popular with French roughs.

In this attire he plunged into the lowest depths of the city.

Amongst the papers seized at the Maltese baker's in Kadikoi were
several that gave an address in Paris. This place was referred to
constantly as the headquarters of the organisation which supplied the
Russian enemy with intelligence, and at which a certain mysteriou