, projecting chin,
height five feet three?"

"Yes."

"Spoke English well?"

"Remarkably well for a foreigner--and so young."

"Had a slight impediment in pronouncing the letter _p_."

"Yes, I tried to correct the dear boy of the habit."

"Did, eh?"

"I did, and with some success too."

"And went by the name of Jules von Dressdorf?"

"Yes."

"Then, by the lord Harry! Master Mortimer, you've immortalized yourself.
You've abducted the most accomplished little _dame d'industrie_ Paris
ever produced--you've snatched from under the very noses of a cordon of
French and Flemish police the princess of adventuresses, Adele de la
Voix, spy, thief, forger--ay, and if suspicion points truly,
murderess--for she is believed to have poisoned an accomplice at Ghent
after consummating the robbery of the Comtesse de Nemour's jewels. A
pretty piece of business truly."

I was dazed. He handed me the journal, and I read for myself the whole
of the infamous plot.

"By George, that boarding-school dodge was an excellent one, worthy of
her greatness--threw the police off the scent for ten days," said
Harvey with a grin.

"Then, when the police got on the right track again," he continued, "it
was too late; she had eloped with you. O Lord, it's too good," and he
lay back in his chair and roared.

"By heavens, if you are not quiet, I'll pitch you out of the window."

"No, you won't. If you move a finger, I'll write and tell Gwennie Grey
all about your elopement. Why, man, if you were a child of grace, you'd
go down on your knees and implore me not to give you two columns in the
'Growler.' There, I was only joking. Don't look so blue. But I confess
it's a strong temptation. Such sensations don't crop up every day;
besides, messieurs the police are dying to know how _la belle_ Adele
crossed the frontier."

"Do you think," I said wearily, "that the proprietor of the _pension_
was an accomplice?"

"Most assuredly not. He is an old resident, and gave his testimony with
tears in his eyes, assuring the court that Jules von Dressdorf was one
of the most docile, intelligent pupils he ever had under his roof."

"And M. Danneris?"

"Her father, I believe. His role was the man of reference, the
respectable 'fence' who directs the game while others do the work."

"Had my trouble with the police here anything to do with the matter?"

"Not a bit of it. They are infernal rascals, reaping where they do
not sow, and looking on careless