"A thousand thanks. I am almost entirely restored. Monsieur, permit me to observe that your title is unknown to me."
"Not all of us may proudly trace descent from Crusader knights, like the Marquis de Brezé. My father's brother, a resident of Munich, received his title from the King of Bavaria, to whom he rendered a service," obsequiously replied the Count de Keller.
"What is this fool trying to say?" René asked himself, mentally, while the other continued:
"What detestable lodgings have fallen to your lot, Marquis." And his keen eyes swept the chamber. "Why, they have given you no desk! not even a bureau or closet; only that miserable bed and this sofa—Confound their impertinence! Were you not ill—though you do not appear so—was it an attack, Marquis?"
"I scarcely know," replied René indifferently. "Some rogues sought to relieve me of my pocket-book and I played the fool in attempting to resist them. One of them scratched my shoulder; the police interfered and prevented further injury."
"London is a dangerous place, indeed!" ejaculated the Count. "One is at the mercy of pickpockets. I have been here before and should have known better than to be ensnared into putting up at the Hotel Douglas. But I rejoice that my presence here has enabled me to pay my compliments to your lordship. Do you contemplate changing your lodgings? If so, permit me to recommend The Crown, to which I am about to remove. That hotel is patronized by the aristocracy and we shall there be in our element."
"I have no plans," replied René indifferently. "I am here in the interest of my mother, the Duchess de Rousillon. It is possible I shall soon return to France. I thank you for the information. I crave your pardon for my seeming lack of courtesy in failing to return your visit, but I am pressed for time." And he bowed his visitor out of the door and again threw himself upon his couch.
Volpetti—for it was he—returned to Brosseur whom he found inspecting the fireplace, in which a bright coke fire was burning. The valet drew a paper from his pocket on which was a diagram in pencil, saying:
"This is the plan of the house. Here is No. 23, which is our bird's cage. Your apartments are 13 and 15, so that four rooms intervene between yours and his. I have engaged 21 for myself. I had hard work getting it, for these people have a mighty reverence for the aristocracy and were loathe to place me so near the Marquis. I therefore protested that my master the Count would be furious at my being placed at a great distance from him."
"Has your chamber a fireplace?' asked Volpetti.