He got the Chateau and, giving his name, asked whether Mrs. Clephane was
on the first floor of the hotel. In a few minutes the answer came: she
was not; should they give him her apartment? He said yes. Presently a
sleepy voice answered. He recognized it as Marie--the maid--and had some
difficulty in convincing her of his identity. He did it at last only by
speaking French to her--which, as he had hitherto addressed her only in
French, was not extraordinary.
And, being convinced, she answered promptly enough that Mrs. Clephane
was not in--she had gone down-stairs about two hours ago telling her not
to wait up. She had no idea where Mrs. Clephane went; she had said
nothing about leaving the hotel.
"Ask her to call me at the Collingwood the moment she comes in," said
Harleston.
Then he got Ranleigh and told him of the Spencer episode and of Mrs.
Clephane's disappearance.
"You would better put Mrs. Clephane under lock and key--or else stay
with her and keep her from rash adventures," Ranleigh commented.
"I quite agree with you," said Harleston. "Meanwhile I might inquire
where was Mrs. Spencer's shadow while she was taxiing up the avenue?"
"I fancy he was on his job, though you may not have seen him," Ranleigh
replied.
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