He watched her narrowly, but her expression did not change an iota.
"She is unfortunately not branded, like Western cattle!" The old lady snorted contemptuously. "Nor is she, as far as I know, six toed like a cat. She is just an average, normal, young person, with an abnormal amount of duplicity."
"Then she possesses no scar, or birthmark?" Ross inquired slowly.
"Good heavens, no!" Madame Dumois exclaimed. "I wouldn't consider her actually pretty, but she has no disfigurement or blemish unless she has been injured recently."
"How recently?" He shot the question at her, but she was on her guard.
"It would have to be a comparatively fresh scar." She smiled grimly at his discomfiture. "No, Mr. Ross. The young woman for whom I am searching has absolutely no feature to distinguish her from a thousand and one others. I see your point, and I regret that I can give you no fuller information concerning her."
She rose as if to terminate the interview, and he was constrained to accept the hint.
"You still could aid me greatly, Madame Dumois, if you would." The detective spoke in his most persuasive manner. "Let me see the photograph of her, which I am sure you possess."
The old lady drew herself up to her full commanding height.
"There are no grounds for your assurance, sir," she declared coldly. "I have no photograph of the young woman."