‘Now,’ he continued confidentially, ‘can you tell me why she left?’
‘I think she was dismissed, monsieur, but I never really understood why.’
‘Dismissed?’
‘Yes, monsieur. She had some row with M. Boirac, our managing director. I don’t know—none of us know—what it was about.’
‘I had heard she was dismissed, and that is why I was interested in her. Unfortunately my business is not for the moment as flourishing as I should wish. It occurred to me that if I could find a typist who had some blot on her record, she might be willing to come to me for a smaller salary than she would otherwise expect. It would benefit her as well as me, as it would enable her to regain her position.’
The clerk bowed without comment, and La Touche continued:—
‘The information I want is this. Can you put me in touch with this young lady? Do you know her address?’
The other shook his head.
‘I fear not, monsieur. I don’t know where she lives.’
La Touche affected to consider.