“He never spoke to the manager, but walked out and let the change go. It was a note for a hundred lire, a hundred francs, and the restaurant bill was no more than seventeen francs.”
“Hah! that is greatly against him indeed.”
“He was much pressed, in a great hurry. Directly he crossed the threshold he called the first cab and was driving away, but he was stopped—”
“The devil! Why did they not keep him, then?”
“Stopped, but only for a moment, and accosted by a woman.”
“A woman?”
“Yes, monsieur. They exchanged but three words. He wished to pass on, to leave her, she would not consent, then they both got into the cab and were driven away together.”
The officials were now listening with all ears.
“Tell me,” said the Chief, “quick, this woman—what was she like? Did you get her description?”
“Tall, slight, well formed, dressed all in black. Her face—it was a policeman who saw her, and he said she was good-looking, dark, brunette, black hair.”