What could it be but good news? Something of importance the detective had heard and wished to communicate with him at once. Count Lavrovski rose as M. Furet’s purported messenger entered the room, and bowed instinctively as he beheld a lady of refined bearing—so different from the usual female detective’s aid he had expected to see. Her face was closely veiled, but her figure and general appearance bespoke youth as well as refinement.
She took the chair which the old Count was offering her, and dexterously placed it so that her back was against the window, while Lavrovski’s face remained in full light.
“Monsieur le Comte,” she began courteously, “I must first tender you my humble apologies for the slight deception I have been forced to practise upon you. I wished to make sure of being allowed to see you without delay, and used M. Furet’s name as an introduction to your presence. I am not his messenger.”
“But, madame—mademoiselle——” stammered Lavrovski, bewildered at this strange preamble, “I——”
“You are at a loss to understand,” rejoined the stranger, “how I knew that M. Furet’s name would be a passport to you. I will tell you that presently, when I have delivered you the message with which I am entrusted, and for which I will venture to ask your kind attention.”
Count Lavrovski was too bewildered to reply. There was a slight pause whilst the mysterious stranger was evidently collecting her thoughts, and Lavrovski instinctively felt some dread he could not account for, some undefinable fear that he would hear a message of life and death.
“I think I am right in stating, monsieur,” she resumed, “that you are at this moment in grave anxiety concerning the disappearance of an august personage whom I need not name. That is so, is it not?”
Lavrovski had half expected this, and yet he turned pale with emotion when he heard this stranger so calmly talking of this dreaded subject. He did not reply; the lady seemed not to expect it, for she proceeded at once.
“Let me assure you first of all, monsieur, that that august personage is well in health, and for the present in no personal danger.”
She emphasised the words “for the present,” watching the effect on Lavrovski’s face.