The absence of any attempt at concealment convinced him that it was the authorized police who had thus suddenly showed their interest in him.

The suspicion was soon to be confirmed.
The manager called him on the fourth morning into his private office.
"Monsieur will pardon me, I trust," he said, "if I take the liberty of asking him a question." "Certainly!" Duncombe answered.

"Go ahead!" "Monsieur is aware that he has been placed under the surveillance of the police ?" "The fact," Duncombe said, "has been borne in upon me during the last few hours.

What of it ?" The manager coughed.
"This is a cosmopolitan hotel, Sir George," he said, "and we make no pretence at ultra-exclusiveness, but we do not care to see the police on the premises." "Neither do I," Duncombe answered.

"Can you suggest how we may get rid of them ?" "Monsieur does not quite understand," the manager said smoothly.
"Clearly he has done something to bring him under the suspicion of the law.