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On the day that Hugh was travelling in hot haste to Paris, Charles Benton arrived in Nice early in the afternoon

Leaving the station it was apparent he knew his way about the town, for passing down the Avenue de la Gare, with its row of high eucalyptus trees, to the Place Massena, he plunged into the narrow, rather evil-s streets of the old quarter

Before a house in the Rue Rossette he paused, and ascending to a flat on the third floor, rang the bell The door was slowly opened by an elderly, rather shabbily-attired Italian

It was Yvonne's late servant at the Villa A his visitor

"Well, Cataldi!" exclaier--a to see you"

The old race scarcely concealed, invited hinor Benton, I never thought to see you again"

"Perhaps you didn't want to--eh? After that little affair in Brussels But I assure you it was not my fault Mademoiselle Yvonne made the blunder"

"And nearly let us all into the hands of the police--including The Sparrow hi blown over Now," he went on, after he had offered the old ar "Now the real reason I've called is to ask you about this nasty affair concerning Madeht What do you know about it?"

"Nothing," the old fellow declared pro I'm a waiter in a cafe in the Avenue de la Gare"

"A hed the well-dressed man "It is not everyone who can afford to be honest in these hard times I wish I could be, but I find it impossible Now, tell me, Giulio, what do you know about the affair at the Villa Amette? The boy, Henfrey, went there to demand of Madery words arose--and he shot her Now, isn't that your theory--the saht into his visitor's face for a few nor Benton--and I don't want to know anything I've told the police all I know Indeed, when they began to inquire into my antecedents I was not very reassured, I can tell you"

"I should think not," laughed Benton "Still, they never suspected you to be the man wanted for the Morel affair--an unfortunate matter that was"