I did not, on the moment, reflect on this story. I only said to myself that one must not judge people by appearances, and that Mrs. Giulay was a more worthy woman than I had at first conceived.
But afterwards, when I had left them, I meditated how little progress I had made by my connexion with Giulay in the "Mystery of the Griseldis score." And then, suddenly, an idea struck me which would have made me go immediately to the Karlsgasse if it had not been a Sunday, and if I had not known that the person who unexpectedly had become very important in my clue, was then not to be found there.
The next morning, however, saw me at Doblana's house. He was not in, Monday mornings being regularly devoted to orchestra rehearsals at the Opera.
I asked Mitzi to call Fanny and to be present at the interview I wished to have with the maid. Mitzi, of course, laughed at my seriousness, but summoned the girl, who came, smiling and plump as always.
"Fanny," I began, "do you remember, when we first investigated the affair of Fräulein's visit to Salzburg, that you said, you knew that it was then a month since Mr. Giulay had left Vienna even for half a day?"
Fanny did not answer.
"Surely you remember?" I asked again.
"Perhaps," she said.
"And I wanted to know," said Mitzi, "how you knew this?"