ese earrings. Now for the key. I'll take that with
me."

"Mam'zelle Marie Pascal!"

"Madame Ceiron?"

"Come along, my dear. I am so frightened, it upsets me to go through
this poor girl's apartment. Just run and see if the outer door is
locked."

While Marie Pascal turned her back and walked toward the door, Madame
Ceiron suddenly pressed against a large box which fell over and spread a
fine coal dust over the carpet.

"It is locked, Madame Ceiron."

"Then come along. I hope to Heaven this business will soon be cleared up
or it will make me ill."

A few moments later Marie Pascal had returned to her own bedroom and the
concierge busied herself by opening in her office a parcel which she had
taken from a cupboard. She was interrupted in her work by the arrival of
a working woman who was engaged to take Madame Ceiron's place when she
had errands to do.

"I am going to leave you alone here to-day, Madame. I have some shopping
to do.... I am going to spend my New Year's gifts, buy a green dress and
a hat with red feathers.... It is my turn to dress up a little."

Shortly afterwards the concierge went out, taking with her the parcel
she had prepared. But instead of going to the shopping district of
Paris, she hurried toward the Bois de Boulogne.

When she had reached a remote part of the wood she entered a small hut.
A few moments later visitors to the Bois noticed the well-known
Ouaouaoua, the Primitive Man, walking down the main pathway. The
enigmatic and dreamy face of this man resembled neither the Marquis de
Serac nor Madame Ceiron and yet ...

The science of camouflage pushed to its extreme limits produces the most
unexpected transformations.

CHAPTER XIII

THE KINGDOM OF HESSE-WEIMAR

"Has Monsieur le Baron any trunks to be examined? This is the
Hesse-Weimar Customs."

These words, spoken in a respectful but guttural voice, startled Juve
from the deep sleep into which he had fallen after a very unpleasant
night. The detective opened his eyes and stretched himself.

The pale light of dawn struggled through the windows of the sleeping
car, the curtains of which had been carefully drawn. Outside nothing was
to be seen, for besides the mud which covered the windows a heavy fog
lay over the country.

The train came to a standstill, and before Juve stood an individual
dressed in an elegant blue and yellow uniform plentifully covered with
gold braid. Juve looked around to see the man who was b