"You amaze me."
"I will be perfectly frank with you. I know all about you."
"Why did you not seek me?"
"I had made up my mind to do so. I was waiting for you to come from the house you had entered when I was assailed by those two men; and now I will tell you my story, and I trust you will believe every word I say, for I shall tell you nothing but the truth."
"Proceed and tell me your story. I am ready to believe what you tell me, and how is it you know about me?"
"I found out who you were. I saw you first when you were on the track of that Spitzanni."
"Spitzanni?" repeated our hero.
"Yes, the man whom you tracked to the meadows, or rather you were inveigled to meet him. I was at hand to aid if it became necessary, for I also was on that man's track. I will tell you about myself." Alphonse told a story that agreed with all the detective knew of Alphonse, and proceeding said:
"A great robbery occurred in Rome. A large reward was offered for the capture of the robbers and the recovery of particular pieces of jewelry—old family heirlooms. An Italian detective in Paris engaged me to come to the United States; he believed that the robbers had fled to America. He knew I spoke both Italian and English as well as French. He speaks only French and Italian. I came here and I have been on the track of those fellows for months."
"Have you made any discoveries?"