"As that man knew nothing, I went to the hotel-keeper himself, who said to me:
"'Madame, I am quite as surprised as you are at the absence of Monsieur de—of Monsieur Adhémar. I know that he intended to go to Italy, he had spoken of it several times; but when he left the house six days ago, he said simply: "I am going into the country; I shall return to-morrow morning."'
"'And he has not returned since?'
"'No, madame.'
"'Where was he going in the country?'
"'Mon Dieu! he didn't tell me; he had received a letter that morning—probably an invitation.'
"'And he went away alone?'
"'Alone, yes, madame. But he will surely return; he has left his linen here, and property of much greater value than the amount of his bill, for he paid every week. He's a young man of orderly habits, and he will return, madame; he is bound to return. The probability is that he's enjoying himself in the country and so is making a longer stay there than he intended.'
"'I will return in a few days then,' I said, as I went away. And I did in fact go there again the second day after. But Adhémar had not been seen! So it went on for a month; until at last I had to abandon all hope."
"But his family—didn't you know them?"