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302 ing to serve her I dashed my glass half full of Chablis and drank to her happiness. Her colour deepened and she was about to say something, when Victor came into the room.

"There is a workman downstairs, m'amselle," said he. "I asked him what he wanted and he tells me he has been sent by the proprietor of the house to look over the plumbing."

Leontine threw me a swift look. "What sort of a man is he in appearance?" she asked.

"He is a respectable-looking person, m'amselle—middle-aged, with an intelligent face and a beard streaked with grey."

"And his costume?" Leontine interrupted.

"He wears a blouse and a black straw hat."

"I know that man," she interrupted fiercely. "He is an impostor. You may go down and tell him that mademoiselle knows all about him, and that he has come to the wrong house and at the wrong time. Tell him that I say he had better go to the Parc Monceau, where he belongs. See that he leaves the premises, Victor."

"Very good, mam'selle." And the man slipped out.

Leontine looked at me. I had dropped my hand into my side pocket and was watching the door. "Frank," said she, "I swear to you that I knew nothing of this. It only goes to show that Ivan and I were right. Chu-Chu is not to be controlled. No doubt he has been watching this house ever since he left the maison de santé, which was five days ago."