Page:The Mystery of Madeline Le Blanc (1900).djvu/103

Rh way—down this way is where we saw her," she continued, almost dragging Monsieur along.

Joseph asked a man who was standing near where the Rue du Roule was.

"It's all out," said the stranger, "and they are already clearing it away."

The men stared at each other.

"I do not know what you are talking about," said Joseph. "Can you tell me where the Rue du Roule is?"

"Certainly. Go but a short distance," replied the stranger, pointing westward into the Rue St. Honoré. "I thought you were speaking of last night's fire."

Irène, nervous with excitement, walked before. She stared into every face that passed, and often looked around and across the street.

Monsieur shook his head.

As they proceeded the crowd became denser; until, a short distance ahead, it became a great mass hovering around the corner of a street.

"See! that is the Rue du Roule, where the crowd is. The name is on the building this way," cried Irène.

They approached the southward cor-