“Certainly, Monsieur, but at the Negresco they knew nothing of Monsieur le Comte. He had not been there.”
“Ah,” said the Comte, “doubtless at that hour Marie was out doing her afternoon marketing?”
“That is so, Monsieur le Comte.”
“Ah, well,” said the Comte, “it is of no importance. A mistake.”
He went upstairs, smiling to himself.
Once within his own room, he bolted his door and looked sharply round. Everything seemed as usual. He opened various drawers and cupboards. Then he nodded to himself. Things had been replaced almost exactly as he had left them, but not quite. It was evident that a very thorough search had been made.
He went over to the bureau and pressed the hidden spring. The drawer flew open, but the hair was no longer where he had placed it. He nodded his head several times.
“They are excellent, our French police,” he murmured to himself—“excellent. Nothing escapes them.”