sist
that you make a thorough search."

"It would be useless, monsieur," Duvall remarked with a faint smile.
"The box must have been on the table when the murderer entered the
room."

"Why?"

"Because otherwise he would have searched for it, and you would have
found everything in disorder. Believe me, monsieur, your servant had
repented of his theft, and was about to return the box to you--it was
that which caused his death. The seal upon his lips is a gruesome
joke--silence--his lips are sealed--he can tell nothing."

"Seltz must be arrested at once," the Ambassador cried, in a rage.

"So far, monsieur, there is not the slightest evidence against him.
Further, it is my opinion that he will leave London at once. Tell me the
name of the shop in Piccadilly Circus where he was employed, and we will
lose no further time in getting on his trail."

The Ambassador was not entirely certain of the location of the shop. He
had never visited it. The name, he remembered, was given in the note as
Perrier. The note had been delivered by one of the servants; he could
tell where, and to whom he had delivered it.

Duvall recommended to the Ambassador that he report the murder to the
police at once, but requested that no mention be made of the presence of
himself and Monsieur Dufrenne. "We should be held as witnesses," he
cautioned Monsieur de Grissac, "and that would seriously interfere with
our plans. Let us interview the servant who took the letter at once."

The latter, a groom, was soon disposed of. He gave the number and
location of the barber shop in Piccadilly Circus, a short distance away,
and reported that he had handed the message to a dark, smooth-shaven man
at the second chair. He did not know Seltz, but the proprietor had
pointed him out in response to his inquiries. His description of the man
was vague and unsatisfactory; he was unable to give any further
information on the subject. Investigations as to anyone having made
inquiries at the servants' entrance during the evening, regarding Noel,
elicited the information that a heavily built, dark man, smooth-shaven,
had called about half-past seven, and upon being informed that the valet
was confined to his room and could not be seen, had disappeared. No one
had taken any particular notice of his coming or going.

When the party had once more assembled in the reception-room, Duvall
turned to Monsieur de Grissac. "There is nothing more to be accomplished
here, monsi