"Yes, tell me about her."
Jim made the same reply to Hanaud which he had made to Mr. Haslitt.
"I have never seen her in my life. I never heard of her until yesterday."
But whereas Mr. Haslitt had received the answer with amazement, Hanaud accepted it without comment.
"Then we shall both make the acquaintance of that young lady at Dijon," he said with a smile, and he rose from his chair.
Jim Frobisher had a feeling that the interview which had begun badly and moved on to cordiality was turning back upon itself and ending not too well. He was conscious of a subtle difference in Hanaud's manner, not a diminution in his friendliness, but—Jim could find nothing but Hanaud's own phrase to define the change. He seemed to have caught the hem of the skirt of Chance as it flickered for a second within his range of vision. But when it had flickered Jim could not even conjecture.
He picked up his hat and stick. Hanaud was already at the door with his hand upon the knob.
"Good-bye, Monsieur Frobisher, and I thank you sincerely for your visit."
"I shall see you in Dijon," said Jim.
"Surely," Hanaud agreed with a smile. "On many occasions. In the office, perhaps, of the examining magistrate. No doubt in the Maison Crenelle."