Page:Arthur Stringer - The Hand of Peril.djvu/20

 between the flaps of his coatfront, well under the table edge, and there quickly but minutely examine its contents. Another was to register a mental note of every name and address found therein. And still another was to trace on a gilt-edged carte des glaces an outline of each key found in the bag of that quiet unsuspecting lady, while the final movement was to slip the bag back into the adroit hands of one Galipaux, who, in due time, drew the attention of a stately lady in a bird of paradise hat to the fact that her purse had fallen to the pavement. And for this, Kestner saw, the mendacious old scoundrel was rewarded with a franc.

"Her money, I regret to say, was all unmistakably genuine," observed Kestner.

"And so is her appetite, for I notice that she's just made away with her third Coupe Jacques."

"She is certainly not true to type," repeated the perplexed Kestner.

"Well, you'll find her true to her gang!"

"I'll tell you that before midnight."

"You mean you're going to jump right into the case?"

"I'm in it already," retorted Kestner, looking at his watch. "I have located the lady, and, if I am not vastly mistaken, I have located the plant."

"Where?"

"The first in a little street off the Boulevard Montparnasse, and the second in so remote a place as the city of Palermo."

Wilsnach followed the other man as he rose to his feet.