The thought crossed his mind that there
could be no object in gazing blankly at the outside of a room; yet
he gazed; then he wandered quickly down again to the next floor,
and in passing along the corridor of that floor he stopped, and with
an involuntary gesture stamped his foot.
'Great Scott!' he said, 'I've got hold of something - No. 111 is
exactly over the State apartments.'
He went to the bureau, and issued instructions that No. 111 was
not to be re-let to anyone until further orders. At the bureau they
gave him Nella's note, which ran thus:
Dearest Papa, - I am going away for a day or two on the trail of a
due.
If I'm not back in three days, begin to inquire for me at Ostend. Till
then leave me alone. - Your sagacious daughter, NELL.
These few words, in Nella's large scrawling hand, filled one side of
the paper. At the bottom was a P.T.O. He turned over, and read the
sentence, underlined, 'P.S. - Keep an eye on Rocco.'
'I wonder what the little creature is up to?' he murmured, as he tore
the letter into small fragments, and threw them into the
waste-paper basket.
Then, without any delay, he took the lift down to the basement,
with the object of making a preliminary inspection of Rocco in his
lair. He could scarcely bring himself to believe that this suave and
stately gentleman, this enthusiast of gastronomy, was concerned in
the machinations of Jules and other rascals unknown.
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