Then, having exchanged a few words, they strolled off a little way, and returned again.
"Are you sure these are the same men you saw before ?" "Yes, sir." Evidently, I could no longer dismiss her warning as an hallucination; and I promised myself to clear up the matter.

As to following the men myself, I was presumably too well known to them.

To address them directly would probably be of no use.

But that very day, one of our best men should be put on watch, and if the spies returned on the morrow, they should be tracked in their turn, and watched until their identity was established.
At the moment, they were waiting to follow me to police headquarters?
For it was there that I was bound, as usual.

If they accompanied me I might be able to offer them a hospitality for which they would scarce thank me.
I took my hat; and while the housekeeper remained peeping from the window, I went down stairs, opened the door, and stepped into the street.
The two men were no longer there.
Despite all my watchfulness, that day I saw no more of them as I passed along the streets.