n his coat, and was preparing to leave the
place. Dufrenne saw him put his hand into his pocket and draw out some
money, which he handed to Seltz. The latter nodded gravely and placed it
in his pocket. The thin-faced man did the same with the package, then
left the shop. There was nothing in the least suspicious about the whole
transaction, and the little Frenchman contented himself with observing
Seltz as he put away his brushes and prepared to stop work for the day.
Once he saw the man draw something from his pocket and glance hurriedly
at it, but his back was toward the chair in which Dufrenne sat, and he
could not see what it was. A sense of uneasiness filled him, however, as
the man who was shaving him drew away the sheet from about his shoulders
and stepped back to allow him to rise.

He made his way to the street as quickly as possible. Seltz was still
occupied in putting away his shaving implements.

On reaching the pavement, Dufrenne turned and walked rapidly toward
Charing Cross. He did not wish to join Duvall in sight of those within.
He had taken but a few paces when the latter caught up to him. "What did
you learn?" the detective asked, quickly.

Dufrenne related in a few words what had occurred in the shop. He failed
to note the excitement with which the detective listened to his story.
"It may have been the snuff box," Duvall cried, moving forward rapidly
in his excitement. "A clever scheme, I must say." He looked about
eagerly for the man who had left the shop so short a time before, but he
had disappeared in the darkness. "If you could only have warned me in
some way."

"It was impossible, monsieur," said Dufrenne much crestfallen. "I could
not leave the chair until the man had finished shaving me."

"Of course not," replied Duvall, uncertain what course to pursue next.
"The man went in this direction. I noticed him particularly. Perhaps if
I were to hurry I might overtake him." He started forward. "You stay
here and watch Seltz. If I do not return, report to me at Monsieur de
Grissac's." He turned and disappeared in the crowd.

Dufrenne went slowly back to the neighborhood of the shop, and stood in
the shadow of the doorway, waiting. Presently he observed two of the
assistants, in street clothes, leave the place and hurry off into the
darkness. Neither of them was Seltz. The lights in the shop began to go
out. Another assistant left. Only Seltz and the proprietor now remained
within. He crept tow