eur," he remarked, quietly. "We will get after this fellow
Seltz at once, and I trust that before long the missing snuff box will
be returned to you."

The Ambassador shook hands with his guests, in a state of extreme
agitation. "Lose no time," he urged. "You must recover the box before
the thief has an opportunity to turn it over to those who are back of
him, else it will be too late. I shall pray for your success." He stood
at the door as his guests departed, shaking as though with a palsy. "It
is a matter of greater moment than life itself. I trust you will not
fail."

CHAPTER IV

Richard Duvall, accompanied by the silent little curio dealer, left the
home of the French Ambassador and walked rapidly to the barber shop of
Alphonse Perrier in Piccadilly Circus. They found the place without
difficulty, a large and evidently prosperous establishment, located on
the ground floor of a building, the upper rooms of which were devoted to
business offices. A large plate glass window in front bore the sign,
"Alphonse Perrier, Tonsorial Parlors."

The detective and his companion walked slowly past the brightly lighted
window, their eyes taking in the details of the interior of the place.
It was now close to ten o'clock, but the street was filled with
pedestrians, and there were still one or two customers in the shop. At
the first chair toward the door stood a large pasty-faced man, with a
mop of bushy black hair, who was engaged in trimming a young man's
mustache. The second chair was occupied by a man who was being shaved.
The fellow who was shaving him answered in a general way to the
descriptions of Seltz given by the Ambassador's servants. The third
chair was unoccupied, and the man in charge of it, as well as those at
the remaining two chairs, were engaged in putting away their razors and
brushes, preparatory to leaving. It was evident that the closing hour
was near at hand.

Duvall turned to his companion, "Monsieur Dufrenne," he said, "will you
enter at once and take the third chair? Keep your eyes and ears open,
and see what you can learn. I will wait here in the shadow of the next
doorway. Our man is evidently inside. He will soon be leaving the shop.
If he does so, before you do, I shall follow him. In that event, return
to Monsieur de Grissac's house and wait there for word from me."

Dufrenne felt his stubbly beard. "It is fortunate, monsieur, that I have
not been shaved since Monday," he said, as he e