"No; I want to know the gentleman's name."
"An' for wy, monsieur?"
"Never you mind," retorted Octavius, coolly; "you do what you're asked, my good fellow."
The "good fellow" gave Mr. Fanks an ugly look; but in another moment was bland and smiling as ever. Mr. Wosk (beckoned by the cherub's head) had gone into the back premises, so the two men were quite alone, of which circumstance Mr. Fanks took advantage by speaking to Monsieur Judas in French, in order to understand him better.
Translated, the conversation (guarded on both sides by mutual suspicion) was as follows:
"Will monsieur permit me to ask him a few questions? Otherwise," said Judas, with a shrug, "I cannot hope to find the name monsieur requires."
"Ask whatever questions you like."
"Does monsieur know when the gentleman left this town?"
Mr. Fanks made a rapid calculation, and answered promptly: "I'm not quite sure; after the 6th and before the 13th of the present month. But your best plan will be to go back from the 13th of November."
"Certainly, monsieur."