Madame had only just returned from her annual visit to the sister-hotel at Brussels.
"Could you tell me where she's gone, 'm?"
Quite suddenly her large fair face wrought. She rose out of the cloud of her own smoke, and just as Céleste had done a few minutes before, went to the window and looked out. Her great shoulders heaved.
"I don't know," she said. "She has not gone home to Aldwoldston. I haf written." Then with an astonishing display of emotion:
"That man!" she cried. "I will never haf that man in my Hotels any mores."
Ernie retired, seeking and dissatisfied.
The news of his search soon spread.
In the boot-room next day, when the men were at their "Elevens," Don John met him with a jeer as he entered.
"Don't he know then?" mocked the Austrian.
"Know what?" asked Ernie.