d that
they actually had in their employ the famous Passero for whom the Surete
were looking everywhere."

"You have no idea where he lives in London?"

"I was once told that he had a big house somewhere in what you call
the West End--somewhere near Piccadilly. I have, however, only seen him
once. About eighteen months ago he was hard pressed by the police and
took refuge here for two nights, till Paolo called for him in his fine
car and he passed out of Italy as a Swiss hotel-proprietor."

"Then he is head of a gang--is he?"

"Yes," was the man's reply. "He is marvellous, and has indeed well
earned his sobriquet 'Il Passero.'"

A sudden thought flitted through Hugh's mind.

"I suppose he is a friend of Mademoiselle of Monte Carlo?"

"Ah, signore, I do not know. Il Passero had many friends. He is rich,
prosperous, well-dressed, and has influential friends in France, in
Italy and in England who never suspect him to be the notorious king of
the thieves."

"Now, tell me," urged young Henfrey. "What do you know concerning
Mademoiselle of Monte Carlo?"

The Italian looked at him strangely.

"Nothing," he replied, still speaking bad French.

"You are not speaking the truth."

"Why should I tell it to you? I do not know you!" was the quick retort.

"But you are harbouring me."

"At the orders of Il Passero."

"You surely can tell me what you know of Mademoiselle," Hugh persisted
after a brief pause. "We are mutually her friends. The attempt to kill
her is outrageous, and I, for one, intend to do all I can to trace and
punish the culprit."

"They say that you shot her."

"Well--you know that I did not," Henfrey said. "Have you yourself ever
met Mademoiselle?"

"I have seen her. She was living for a time at Santa Margherita last
year. I had a friend of hers living here with me and I went to her with
a message. She is a very charming lady."

"And a friend of Il Passero?"

The Italian shrugged his shoulders with a gesture of ignorance.

Hugh Henfrey had certainly learned much that was curious. He had never
before heard of the interesting cosmopolitan thief known as The Sparrow,
but it seemed evident that the person in question had suddenly become
interested in him for some obscure and quite unaccountable reason.

As day followed day in that humble place of concealment, Beppo told him
many things concerning the famous criminal Il Passero, describing his
exploits in terms of admiration. Hugh learnt that