Faunce started his inquiry with a bold guess.
"Do you happen to remember a lady and gentleman who dined here one Friday evening in March last year—a tall man, good-looking, and a very handsome woman. He was to leave for New York next day."
"We get a good many people who are going to New York, sir—chiefly Americans who want to look about the neighbourhood—but I do call to mind such a gentleman dining here one night in the spring of last year—for the special reason that he engaged a bedroom, and didn't occupy it, and also that he left a crocodile dressing-bag that has never been claimed from that day to this."
"Should you remember his face, do you think, if you saw his photograph?"
"I think I might, sir. I don't often forget a face that I've waited upon—unless it's no more than a casual drink and out again."
Faunce produced his capacious letter-case, in which there were half-a-dozen cabinet photographs.
He selected one, and showed it to the waiter.
"Was this the man?"
"No, sir, not a bit like him."
Faunce showed him another.