There was another exit leading to the body of the building.
"Has a gentleman passed through here ?" I asked a clerk, whose occupation seemed to consist in piling sovereigns one upon another.
"Yes," he said, through his counting.
"Ah!" thought I."Now I have him like a rat in a trap." "He cannot get through ?" I said.
"Can't he--you bet," said the young man with much humour.
I hurried on, and at last found the exit to Lothbury.
"Has a gentleman just passed out this way ?" I inquired of a porter, who looked sleepy and dignified.
"Three have passed out this five minutes--old gent with a squint, belongs to Coutts's--tall fair man--tall dark man." "The dark one is mine," I said.

"Which way ?" "Turned to the left." I hurried on with a mental note that sleepy men may see more than they appear to do.

Standing on the crowded pavement of Lothbury, I realised that Madame de Clericy was right, and I little better than a fool.

For it was evident that I had been tricked, and that quite easily by Charles Miste.

To seek him in the throng of the city was futile, and an attempt predestined to failure.