The hall led toward the front of the building, and there were three rooms on the side of it toward the street.
All the doors were open and the rooms were empty. Nick glanced into these rooms, and then turned toward the desk. As he did so he saw a waiter coming down the stairs from the floor above.
This man was known by the name of Gaspard. He was the head waiter, and was on duty in the lower hall.
"Ah, Gaspard," said Nick, "who's your waiter on this floor to-night?"
Gaspard looked at Nick anxiously. He did not, of course, know who the detective really was, but he remembered him as one who had assisted the police in a case in which that house had been concerned about two years before.
"Jean Corbut," replied Gaspard. "I hope nothing is wrong."
"That remains to be seen," said Nick. "What sort of a man is this Corbut?"
"A little man," answered Gaspard, "and very thin. He has long, black hair, and mustaches pointed like two needles."
"Have you sent him out for anything?"
"Oh, no; he is here."