met him eagerly, saying, "I have seen her, sir! I have
seen her! She passed by here not ten minutes ago, dressed in weeds like
a widow, and walking very fast. I would swear to her."

"Oh, ho," said the man in black, "we will soon find her now," and
calling to the landlord, who was as profoundly deferential towards him
as the coachman had been, he said in the sweetest possible tone, "Will
you have the goodness to let Monsieur Martin know that the _bon homme
grivois_ wishes to speak with him for a moment?"

It was wonderful with what rapidity Monsieur St. Martin, a tall, dashing
looking personage, with an infinite wig, obeyed the summons of the _bon
homme grivois_.

"Ah, _bon jour_, St. Martin," said the man in black.

"_Bon jour, Monsieur_," replied the other, with a profound obeisance.

"A lady of forty--has been handsome, fresh color, dark eyes, middle
height, hair brown, hardly gray," said the man in black. "Dressed like
an English widow, somewhat common air and manner, has come here within a
year. Where is she to be found, St. Martin?"

The other, who had remained standing, took out his little book, and
after consulting its pages diligently, gave a street and a number.

"What's her name?" asked the man in black.

"Mistress Brown," replied Monsieur St. Martin.

"Good," said the man in black, "but we must wait till to-morrow morning,
as it is now growing dark, and there must be no mistake; first, lest we
scare the real bird in endeavoring to catch one we don't want, and next,
lest we give annoyance to any of his Majesty's guests, which would
reduce the king to despair."

The next morning, at an early hour, the party of four proceeded to the
street which had been indicated, discovered the number, and then entered
a handsome hotel, inhabited by an old French nobleman. The man in black
seemed unknown to either the servants or their master, but a very few
words spoken in the ear of the latter, rendered him most civil and
accommodating. A room in the front of the house, just over that of the
porter, was put at the disposal of the visitors, and the man who had
accompanied Marlow from the country was placed at the window to watch
the opposite dwelling. It was a balmy morning, and the house was near
the outskirts of the town, so that the fresh air of the country came
pleasantly up the street. The windows of the opposite house were,
however, still closed, and it was not till Marlow and his companions had
been there