his thing highly. Their motive may have
been--not money, but revenge. In that case, its recovery will be vastly
more difficult."

Duvall saw that Monsieur de Grissac was not being frank with him, and
for a moment he was conscious of a deep sense of annoyance. Monsieur
Lefevre had, heretofore, invariably taken him into his confidence. He
controlled his feelings, however, and appeared to be satisfied with the
Ambassador's explanations. "What did the box contain, Monsieur de
Grissac," he asked, pleasantly.

"A quantity of snuff, monsieur."

"Nothing else?"

"Nothing."

"Oh! And you, monsieur, are in the habit of using snuff?"

"Yes. It is the only form in which I use tobacco. Old-fashioned,
perhaps, but I belong to the older generation." He straightened himself
up suddenly. "Let us proceed, gentlemen. I fear we are wasting valuable
time."

Duvall nodded. "Permit me to ask you a few more questions."

"I am at your service, monsieur."

"When did you last see the box?"

"This morning, at nine o'clock. I always carry it in the right-hand
pocket of my waistcoat. To insure its safety, I had it attached to a
long gold chain, which was securely fastened to the inside of the
pocket. I rose this morning somewhat late, having attended a banquet
last night. After having my coffee and rolls in my bedroom, I went to my
dressing-room to be shaved. As I did so, I paused for a moment, drew the
snuff box from the pocket of my white evening waistcoat, which my valet
had hung in a closet the night before, and took a pinch of snuff from
it. I then replaced it in the pocket and entered the dressing-room
adjoining, where Noel, my man, was waiting for me. He proceeded to shave
me as usual, and I began to dress. Upon going to the closet in my
bedroom to remove the box, and fasten it by means of the chain to the
clasp in the pocket of the waistcoat I had just put on, I was amazed to
find it gone. I at once summoned Noel--"

"Summoned him?" interrupted the detective. "Was he not with you in the
room?"

"No. A few moments before--as soon, in fact, as I had completed
dressing, he left the apartment to give some instructions to my
chauffeur."

"What did you do then?"

"I at once rushed out into the hall, calling for Noel."

"You believed, then, that he had taken the box?"

"I could believe nothing else. No one but he had been in my rooms."

"Oh! I see. And you questioned him?"

"Yes. On reaching the hall I met one of the maids