A moment of fun was a welcome relief, and they both made the most of it.
"Not that I lack it entirely," Sweetwater hastened to say.

Then they laughed again--after which their talk proceeded on serious lines.
"Sweetwater, what is that you once told me about a family named Duclos ?" "Why, this, sir: There is one such family in town, as Peters discovered in looking up the name in the directory a day or two after Madame's disappearance.

But there's nothing to be learned from them.

Mr.and Mrs.
Edward Duclos are a most respectable couple and have but one answer to every question.

They know no one of their name outside their own family.
Though the man of the house is Breton born, he has lived many years in this country, and in all that time has never met another Duclos." "And Peters let it go at that ?" "Had to.