Suddenly, my knees seemed to turn to water. "Mr. de Grandin," I managed to whisper, "I have always wanted to see you in person; I hope you will forgive my intrusion."
Jules de Grandin waved me to a seat with his long, artistic hand, and seeing a silver topped walking stick in the corner, I asked, "Is that the famous walking stick which vanquished the werewolf in 'The Thing in the Fog'?"
"Eh, bien, of a truth, my young friend," he admitted, "if it were not for the concealed sword in the center, I would have been in too many tight places for comfort."
"Mr. de Grandin, will you please tell how many years you have been interested in this line of investigation?" I asked.
"O, tiens, my young lady, I have been actively engaged for the past eight years in this thrilling occupation."
"I am sorry that I weren't acquainted with your adventures right from the start," I confessed. "Weren't you afraid in some of the gruesome cases such as 'The Bleeding Mummy' and the 'Band of Glory'?"
"Eh, bien," he answered, "my friend, if one allows himself to let fear enter his heart, he is already defeated, and I know that I have the Good One in my favor."
"Well, Mr. de Grandin and Dr. Trowbridge, thank you for this delightful talk," I began, when a blood-curdling moan echoed through the house. De Grandin, Dr. Trowbridge, and I ran to where the moan seemed to come from, but nothing was there. I imagine that I must have turned pale, for Dr. Trowbridge caught hold of my arm and gave me a glass of water containing some sort of restorative. As I began to feel better, my color came back and de Grandin said, "My friend, your train leaves in twenty minutes, so, Friend Trowbridge, get out your car and take the young lady to the station."
"But how about that moan?" I asked.
"Mon Dieu!" he exclaimed, though less excited than would be expected under the circumstances, "but I, Jules de Grandin, shall soon find out!"