ut I spoke to his secretary, M. Casimir, who said you
were not to worry yourself, as the man would no doubt return."

"But he has not returned."

The boy rejoined, with a movement of the shoulders that plainly implied:
"How can I help that?"

"You hear, sir," said the hostess, apparently thinking the importunate
questioner would now withdraw.

Such, however, was not Lecoq's intention, and he did not even move,
though he had need of all his self-possession to retain his English
accent. "This is very annoying," said he, "very! I am even more anxious
and undecided than I was before, since I am not certain that this is the
man I am seeking for."

"Unfortunately, sir, I can tell you nothing more," calmly replied the
landlady.

Lecoq reflected for a moment, knitting his brows and biting his lips,
as if he were trying to discover some means of solving the mystery. In
point of fact, he was seeking for some adroit phrase which might lead
this woman to show him the register in which all travelers are compelled
to inscribe their full names, profession, and usual residence. At the
same time, however, it was necessary that he should not arouse her
suspicions.

"But, madame," said he at last, "can't you remember the name this man
gave you? Was it May? Try to recollect if that was the name--May--May!"

"Ah! I have so many things to remember. But now I think of it, and the
name must be entered in my book, which, if it would oblige you, I can
show you. It is in the drawer of my writing-table. Whatever can I have
done with my keys?"

And while the hostess, who seemed to possess about as much intelligence
as her starling, was turning the whole office upside down looking for
her keys, Lecoq scrutinized her closely. She was about forty years of
age, with an abundance of light hair, and a very fair complexion.
She was well preserved--that is to say, she was plump and healthy in
appearance; her glance was frank and unembarrassed; her voice was clear
and musical, and her manners were pleasing, and entirely free from
affectation.

"Ah!" she eventually exclaimed, "I have found those wretched keys at
last." So saying, she opened her desk, took out the register, laid it
on the table, and began turning over the leaves. At last she found the
desired page.

"Sunday, February 20th," said she. "Look, sir: here on the
seventh line--May--no Christian name--foreign artist--coming from
Leipsic--without papers."

While Lecoq was examining t