"Well, the whole affair will end as usual," said the detective with a sigh, "in a public scandal and divorce; but I want to see you about this," and taking the hat out of the parcel, he laid it before Madame. It was rather striking-looking--black straw, with brown and blue velvets twisted together and caught on one side with a slender silver crescent.
"Yes, that's mine," said Madame, glancing at it. "Rather good style, I think. What do you want to know?"
"The name of the person you sold it to."
"Humph!--rather a difficult question to answer--some one might have bought it and taken it away with them, but if they left an address I'll soon find out."
She touched a bell, and a girl appeared.
"Send Miss Brail to me--she's invaluable," explained Madame to Dowker when the girl had vanished. "Such a wonderful memory, forgets nothing. I find her useful in my deals with ladies--a milliner's business is not all bonnets and hats, as we know."
"It's more than the world does," responded Dowker with as near an approach to a smile as he allowed himself.
Miss Brail made her appearance, and decided the question at once.
"It was sold to a lady about two months ago--somewhere in St. John's Wood."
"Was it a real lady?" asked Dowker.