Set them to work on a private inquiry in the city of
Pekin--and they would get on in time with the Chinese people. Set them
to work in the city of London--and the English people would remain, from
first to last, the same impenetrable mystery to them. In my belief the
London Sunday would be enough of itself to drive them back to Paris
in despair. No balls, no concerts, no theaters, not even a museum or a
picture-gallery open; every shop shut up but the gin-shop; and nothing
moving but the church bells and the men who sell the penny ices.
Hundreds of Frenchmen come to see me on their first arrival in England.
Every man of them rushes back to Paris on the second Saturday of his
visit, rather than confront the horrors of a second Sunday in London!
However, you can try it if you like. Send me a written abstract of the
case, and I will forward it to one of the official people in the Rue
Jerusalem, who will do anything he can to oblige me. Of course," said
Felix, turning to Mr. Troy, "some of you have got the number of the lost
bank-note? If the thief has tried to pass it in Paris, my man may be of
some use to you."
"Three of us have got the number of the note," answered Mr. Troy; "Miss
Isabel Miller, Mr. Moody, and myself."
"Very good," said Felix. "Send me the number, with the abstract of the
case. Is there anything else I can do towards recovering the money?"
he asked, turning to his aunt. "There is one lucky circumstance in
connection with this loss--isn't there? It has fallen on a person who
is rich enough to take it easy.
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