"Does he live in Paris?"
"I suppose so."
"Has he ever written to you? Do you happen to have a few lines in his handwriting, anything which he left behind, that may serve us as a clue?"
"No clue at all. . . . Oh, wait a minute . . . but I don't think that has any importance. . . ."
"Speak, speak . . . please. . . ."
"Well, two days ago, the gentleman asked permission to use my typewriting machine; and he typed out—with difficulty, for he evidently had no practice—a letter of which I saw the address by accident."
"What was the address?"
"He was writing to the Journal and he put about twenty stamps into the envelope."
"Yes . . . the agony-column, no doubt," said M. Lenormand.
"I have to-day's number with me, chief," said Gourel.