I had met him, and had reason to know that he admired my acting.
His first words were of congratulation upon my success in the new play; and he was as cordial, as complimentary, as if he had never heard of that scene at the Elysee Palace Hotel, about which of course he knew everything--so far as his subordinate could report.
"Are you surprised to see me, Monsieur ?" I asked.
"A great delight is always more or less of a surprise in this work-a-day world," he gallantly replied.
"But you can guess what has brought me ?" "Would that I could think it was only to give me a box at the theatre this evening." "It is partly that," I laughed.

"Partly for the pleasure of seeing you, of course.

And partly--you know already, since you know everything, that I am a friend of Mr.Dundas, the young Englishman accused of a murder which he could not possibly have committed." "Could not possibly have committed?
Is that merely your opinion as a loyal friend, or have you come to make a communication to me ?" "For that--and to offer you the stage-box for to-night." "A thousand thanks for the box.

As for the communication--" "It's this.

Mr.Dundas was in my house at the time when, according to the doctors' statements, the murder must have been committed.