"That being so, don't you think the Hôtel Saint Ange ought to be searched?"
"Searched?" repeated Senator Burton slowly. "Searched for what?"
"If I had charge of this business—I mean sole charge—the first thing I would do would be to have the Hôtel Saint Ange searched from top to bottom!" said Gerald vehemently.
"Is that Mrs. Dampier's suggestion?"
"No, father, it's mine. I had a talk with that boy Jules last night, and I'm convinced he's lying. There's another thing I should like to do. I should like to go to the office of the 'New York Herald' and enlist the editor's help. I would have done it long ago if this man Dampier had been an American."
"And you would have done a very foolish thing, my boy." The Senator spoke with more dry decision than was his wont. "Come, come, Gerald, you and I mustn't quarrel over this affair! Let us think of the immediate thing to do." He put his hand on his son's arm.
"Yes, father?"
"I suppose that the first thing to do is to take this Mr. Stephens' advice?"
"Why, of course, father! Will you, or shall I, go to the Prefecture of
Police?"
"Well, Gerald, I have bethought myself of that courteous President of the
French Senate who wrote me such a pleasant note when we first arrived in
Paris this time. No doubt he would give me a personal introduction to the
Prefect of Police."